A new venture in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has led to asset integrity management and industrial solutions company the Dickinson Group of Companies (DGC) establishing DGC Africa DRC.

With this growth, DGC will launch two new divisions in the DRC: DGC Workforce Solutions, which will provide outsourced workforce solutions tailored to client requirements, and DGC Procurement Solutions, through strategic partnerships.

On the back of this, a robust supply chain network will provide efficient and cost-effective procurement services of critical equipment, materials and supplies for the mining and large industry sectors.

The DRC project plays an integral part in DGC South Africa’s business strategy and expansion plans in the region, where, through collaboration with local stakeholders, the company will contribute to the growth of the mining and manufacturing sectors in the DRC, says DGC chairperson and Africa region CEO Trevor Dickinson.

He notes that the undertaking of establishing the technical training centre in Kolwezi, in the DRC, is in line with DGC’s commitment to workforce development, where essential skills training in areas such as refractory bricklaying, boiler making, welding, hydraulics and pneumatics, millwright, rigging, diesel mechanics and safety will be provided to develop a “competent and well-rounded” workforce that meets the specific needs of the mining and smelting industries in the country.

“These new projects reflect our commitment to comprehensive solutions and sustainable development.

“With our expertise, industry knowledge and focus on quality, we are confident that these projects will have a positive impact on the mining and industrial sectors in the DRC and contribute to the overall development of the country,” Dickinson elaborates.

The company has teamed up with reputable technical training partners to ensure the delivery of industry-leading programmes and promote sustainable practices in the region.

As a partner company of DGC South Africa, DGC Africa will leverage DGC South Africa’s presence and extensive experience in the region, providing DGC Africa with a strong foundation and valuable insight as it expands into sub-Saharan Africa and Central Africa.

DGC’s expansion into Central Africa will also serve as a springboard to potentially expand into other African regions, particularly West Africa, through the localisation partnership business model.

This model allows for the leveraging of local expertise and resources by partnering with well-established and well-connected franchisees with a strong customer base to customise services that meet market needs.

The partnership will create opportunities for local businesses, offering customised solutions, creating jobs and contributing towards skills development by hiring local talent, in addition to enhancing service quality and safety standards, knowledge transfer and collaboration,

Services Offering

DGC recently successfully completed a furnace overhaul for a major platinum producer, in South Africa, through its turnkey furnace rebuild project service, designed specifically for major furnace outages.

The services cover every aspect of furnace overhauling, from project management and construction to furnace decommissioning, salamander tapping, demolition and refractory installation.

Collaborating with well-established engineering and design companies has enabled DGC South Africa to procure and install top-tier refractory materials that adhere to stringent quality specifications and safety standards while being cost effective.

DGC also offers furnace inspection services to enhance furnace efficiency and effectiveness though high-temperature endoscopy and infrared thermography (HTEIT).

HTEIT allows for real-time, remote visualisation of the furnace interior during normal operations. Such services are possible using purpose-designed endoscopy devices, providing high-quality images using high-definition video cameras, equipped with water and air-cooled housings.

The endoscopy system operates within furnaces with a heat tolerance of up to 1 600 ºC, and can be applied to applications such as furnace monitoring and efficient maintenance scheduling.

The infrared thermography device visualises the thermal status of furnace equipment from the outside. It detects hot spots and conducts temperature measurements while monitoring refractory lining damages and estimating remaining thickness to reduce safety risks and the impact on ancillary equipment, as well as the probability of major damage.

DGC Africa, alongside its private-sector partners, is also exploring collaborative initiatives in the US Agency for International Development’s Africa Trade Investment (ATI) programme, specifically the prospects of sourcing critical minerals from the DRC and supporting African companies and artisanal miners to integrate into global value chains.

“We have expressed our interest in participating in the ATI programme and have approached renowned companies in the DRC to join us.

While the final outcomes are still being finalised, DGC is actively working on developing a compelling concept note that aligns with the goals of the ATI programme.