DRC President opens Kamoa Centre of Excellence

Ivanhoe Mines Executive Co-Chair Robert Friedland and President Marna Cloete announced that His Excellency Félix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, visited the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex to formally open the Kamoa Centre of Excellence and address the workforce.

The ceremony was also attended by the First Lady, Her Excellency Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi, the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, His Excellency Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, the Governor of the Province of Lualaba, Ms. Fifi Masuka, and other members of the DRC national government.

The recently completed Kamoa Centre of Excellence is located between the Kamoa-Kakula operations and the town of Kolwezi on the DRC Copperbelt.

It is a higher-education facility built by Kamoa Copper S.A. to produce the next generation of leaders at Kamoa-Kakula, as well as leaders for the mining industry in the DRC and beyond. The Centre of Excellence welcomed its inaugural class of Congolese students in September.

The presidential delegation first visited the Kamoa Centre of Excellence where they were greeted by senior management from Ivanhoe Mines and Kamoa Copper for the official opening ceremony.

After the ceremony, the delegation toured the Centre of Excellence and received a presentation from senior management. The President also addressed the inaugural class of students.

His Excellency Félix Tshisekedi, DRC President, commented during his address:

“We just visited [the Kamoa Centre of Excellence]. It will train generations of Congolese to work in the mining sector, enabling them to become themselves great leaders of the industry and to lead this country in the most beautiful way for the happiness of the Congolese people.

“I see the investments that Kamoa Copper are making in the development of the value chain of copper production in our country. It will add value to our [economic] output, increasing wealth and create employment opportunities for the Congolese.

“We have invested a lot in infrastructure because we know that without it, we cannot have, or guarantee the development of our country.

We have invested a significant amount, and I must say thank you to the contributions of our partners the World Bank, China, the International Monetary Fund, the European Union, etc.

“All these partners have come to our aid because they believe today in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They wish to be by our side to see what my country can become. A country that will create millions of jobs thanks to the industrialization policy that we have adopted.”

Kamoa Copper is committed to upskilling and empowering its local workforce. Despite only commencing commercial operations in July 2021, Kamoa Copper’s full-time Congolese employee representation today stands at approximately 97%.

The operations utilize modern, mechanized mining techniques that require highly trained operators. While Kamoa-Kakula’s operations continue to expand in size, the aim is to enhance both the Congolese representation and training opportunities at all levels to develop the careers of the talented local workforce.

The Kamoa Centre of Excellence, together with the existing Kansoko Training Centre at Kamoa-Kakula, provide a platform of higher education and vocational training to educate and equip young Congolese for a rewarding career in the mining industry.

The Kamoa Centre of Excellence opened its doors in September 2023 to an inaugural class of 39 Congolese students. The inaugural class was significantly oversubscribed.

All students have received bursaries covering tuition fees, course materials, transportation and food, as well as a laptop.

The current curriculum, created in partnership with the Enterprises University of Pretoria, offers students a one-year program covering modules in English language, computational thinking, creative problem solving, basic financial literacy, workplace ethics, introduction to mining, project management, and entrepreneurship development.

The student intake will be expanded over time. The recently completed first phase of the Kamoa Centre of Excellence facility can accommodate up to 150 students and consists of a reception building, a café, an administration office, two lecture rooms, a multi-purpose hall and related facilities.

The buildings have been designed in conjunction with leading architects to provide a superb learning environment in harmony with the surrounding landscape of Lualaba province.

The exterior of the Kamoa Centre of Excellence. The first phase of the Kamoa Centre of Excellence can accommodate up to 150 students, with further expansions planned over time to increase student intake and the number of accredited courses available.

The Kamoa Centre of Excellence will also be expanded to allow students to access various degrees, diplomas, and short courses, in collaboration with internationally accredited academic institutions.

The long-term goal is to create a self-sustaining, world-class educational institution that is fully integrated with the DRC mining industry where over time the “trainees” become the “trainers”. Plans are also under consideration for additional academic departments, as well as sports and accommodation facilities.

Ivanhoe Mines’ President Marna Cloete commented:

“Ivanhoe Mines and our joint-venture partners at Kamoa-Kakula have committed to ‘mining with a greater purpose’, and creating long-term sustainable value within the communities in which we operate, and for the DRC as a whole.

“Part of this is developing a highly educated and skilled local workforce that can lead the DRC’s mining industry for generations to come.

The young, vibrant Congolese population has a wealth of untapped potential and we have seen the success of this model by boosting Kamoa Copper’s workforce to 97% Congolese in just a few short years.

“We look forward to expanding the Kamoa Centre of Excellence and offering a wide variety of advanced education opportunities right here in Lualaba province.

“We would like to thank His Excellency Félix Tshisekedi for his support, and we look forward to continuing to work proactively with the DRC government to assist in realizing the country’s full economic potential from its incredible endowment of critical minerals.”

SOURCE:miningreview.com