SRK Strengthens Mining Ties In DRC

SRK Strengthens Mining Ties In DRC

OpenLife Nigeria reports that with an office presence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, since 2010, SRK Consulting will be, once again, strengthening its ties with local players at this year’s DRC Mining Week to be held in Lubumbashi in June.
According to Susa Maleba, country manager for SRK DRC, the event is always a valuable opportunity to reaffirm SRK’s presence in the DRC and engage with clients, peers, government and other industry stakeholders.
“In addition to sponsoring the event and learning more about mining companies’ plans and broader trends in the country’s exciting mining sector, we will also be sharing knowledge and insights with clients,” said Maleba.

“This will be done through workshops that we have planned on the side lines of DRC Mining Week, to assist clients in dealing with some of the challenging issues that we identify in our ongoing work.”

Among the topics under the spotlight in these workshops will be: mine closure planning and related social transitioning aspects; water management and water stewardship; and environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues and sustainability.

The workshops will also support SRK’s strategic collaboration between its Congolese, South African and Chinese offices, by engaging the large China-based miners active in the DRC.

Principal environmental scientist and SRK DRC director Wouter Jordaan emphasised that SRK has been working with clients in the DRC to move beyond just complying with legal regulations – and to work towards adopting world class reporting and sustainable mining practices.

“The mining sector globally has progressed significantly in raising responsible mining standards,” said Jordaan. “Companies in the DRC are moving in this direction as well, and we are leveraging our international experience in working with the local industry to apply these guidelines and standards.”

The event will also provide the opportunity for SRK South Africa’s new managing director, Andrew van Zyl, to meet key role players in the DRC mining sector.

Van Zyl will participate in a panel discussion hosted by sponsor Glencore; this forum will focus on mines’ development plans and the overall impact of sustainable development objectives and corporate responsibilities.
SRK will be present with an exhibition booth at DRC Mining Week, and visitors can meet its multinational team of specialists in a range of disciplines – from mining engineering and geology to environmental management and stakeholder engagement.