With a total mineral wealth estimated in the tens-of-trillions of dollars, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of the most strategic mining markets for motors and electrical solutions company WEG, the company says, adding that “it is armed with” a diverse scope of products including low and high voltage electric motors, low and high voltage drives, power and distribution transformers, generator sets and energy solutions, as well as low and medium voltage switchgear, motor control centres (MCCs) and E-houses.

For over 20 years, WEG has been a strategic supplier to the mining sector in the DRC.

The company’s local South African manufacturing base has been central to reduced lead times, while a well-established distribution and service network has enhanced support capabilities and, ultimately, customer satisfaction.

The fact that manufacturing now takes place in Johannesburg, which is only 2 000 km away from most of the mining sites in the DRC, significantly shortens lead times compared to previously importing from WEG’s overseas factories in Europe, Asia or the Americas, says WEG regional manager for Central Africa Thierry Kakese.

“To enable efficient delivery of products, we place value on proper planning and understanding all the logistical dynamics while the products are in transit, especially considering they have to pass through various border points. The target has always been to deliver timeously as per agreed timeframes with our customers despite border and road challenges,” says Kakese.

The company operates through various links and channels in the DRC. “When it comes to capital projects, we work directly with engineering, procurement and construction, and project houses to ensure our products and solutions are specified,” he says.

Kakese explains that on the operational side, WEG establishes a direct link with end-users, mostly through the company’s in-country partners, with WEG’s local representation in the DRC comprising distribution and service channels.

Committed to the profitability of its customers, WEG also continually invests in the development of innovative industrial electrical solutions.

One of WEG’s flagship product lines in the DRC is its premium IE3 and IE4 motors, the energy saving benefits of which have set them apart from competitor products, addressing mines’ requirements to reduce energy consumption and lower operating costs.

Much of the WEG equipment for the DRC is manufactured in South Africa. The low voltage and high voltage MCCs, transformers, generator sets, medium voltage soft starters, low voltage variable speed drives (VSDs) and soft starter panels are all manufactured in Johannesburg, while some of the generator sets come from the company’s Cape Town facility.

Given the importance of quality control in mining, these facilities are ISO 9001: 2015 certified and adhere to high quality procedures and standards. WEG also complies with the relevant International Electrotechnical Commission standards for the various product groups.

Overcoming Regional Challenges

Delivering products and solutions in the DRC is not without its challenges, adds Kakese, noting that the DRC probably has one of the most challenging transport infrastructure environments in Africa.

Most of the mines in the DRC are also located in remote areas, rendering road transportation difficult.

“To address this challenge, we have over the years bolstered our local representation with service and distribution partners who carry sufficient stockholding and are the first line of support for customers in the DRC,” Kakese explains.

WEG recently added project management company IPS Congo to the company’s Value Added Reseller network. IPS Congo is strategically located in Kolwezi, where the majority of mines in the DRC are based.

On the service side of the company’s network, WEG has added Lekasi-based electrical installation, repair and maintenance company AEMI, which services WEG’s range of low voltage motors.

Another major challenge in the DRC is the lack of technical skills. To address this, WEG invests heavily in the development of its local partners through continuous training programmes.

Commenting on some of the success stories in the DRC, Kakese points out that WEG’s medium voltage VSDs and low voltage motors have, in the past decade, been specified for some of the major projects in the country. However, Kakese notes that it is WEG’s involvement with a major copper project that he believes is a major reference point.

“We supplied and commissioned several of our products for Phase 1 and Phase 2 of this major copper project and we are currently completing Phase 3,” says Kakese.

In future, WEG’s plan is to gain more local presence in the DRC by establishing a strong sales and service network with the ability to support its entire product portfolio.

“These partners would be product- and area-focused to ensure our customers in the DRC experience the best possible support,” concludes Kakese.