The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is seen as one of the most strategic mining markets for WEG which supplies a range of products to the sector, including low- and high-voltage electric motors, low- and high-voltage drives, power and distribution transformers, gensets and energy solutions, low- and medium-voltage switchgear, motor control centres (MCCs) and E-houses.

The company operates through various links and channels in the DRC and says that its South African manufacturing base has been central to reduced lead times, while its distribution and service network has enhanced its support capabilities.

“When it comes to capital projects, we work directly with EPCM and project houses to ensure our products and solutions are specified. On the operational side, we establish a direct link with end-users, mostly via our in-country partners. Our local representation in the DRC comprises distribution and service channels,” explains WEG regional manager: Central Africa Thierry Kakese.

The company highlights one of its flagship product lines in the DRC as its IE3 and IE4 motors, noting that the energy saving benefits of these motors help its mining customers to reduce energy consumption and lower operating costs.

WEG notes that much of its DRC-bound equipment is manufactured in South Africa. The low-voltage (LV) and high voltage (HV) MCCs, transformers, gensets, MV soft starters, LV variable speed drives (VSDs) and soft starter panels are all manufactured in Johannesburg, while some of the gensets come from the company’s Cape Town facility. It affirms that these facilities are ISO 9001: 2015 certified and adhere to high quality procedures and standards, to meet mining quality control requirements. The company says it also complies with the relevant International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards for the various product groups.

The company explains that enabling manufacturing to take place in Johannesburg, only 2 000 km away from most mining sites in the DRC, significantly shortens lead times compared to previously importing from WEG’s overseas factories in Europe, Asia or the Americas.

“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.

Delivering products and solutions in the DRC is not without its challenges, says Kakese, adding that the DRC has one of the most challenging transport infrastructure environments in Africa. In addition, most of the mines are 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. In fact, we have recently added IPS Congo to our 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 our network, we have added Lekasi-based AEMI, which services our range of low-voltage motors,” explains Kakese.

In addition, WEG highlights its investment in the development of its local partners through continuous training programmes aimed at addressing the gap in technical skills.