The West African Mining & Power Exhibition (Wampex) 2016 will showcase the opportunities that still exist in the challenging African market, says events company and organiser dmg-ems Africa VP Christine Davidson.

The biennial event, which has been running for 22 years, will return to the Accra International Conference Centre, in Ghana, from June 1 to 3.

“The slowly improving interest in gold and mineral resources is fuelling a gradual turnaround in mining prospects, which is why Wampex is so important to the mining and power sectors,” she stresses, adding that, despite the global commodities crunch, companies are realising that there are positive opportunities for businesses.

“The world has gone through a turbulent 18 months and, for many players in the commodities market, the initial reaction was to throw their hands up and panic . . . mine owners worldwide in all sectors recognise that they still need to invest . . . planning for the future to generate profits. I believe that attendees at this year’s show will be those individuals and company chiefs who recognise [that] there is opportunity in the current marketplace.”

Besides other topics, the latest developments in power and energy, and how to achieve growth amid considerable market strain, will be highlighted.

Davidson notes that the focus for Wampex 2016 is definitely on technology, equipment and how to improve efficiency of production. She adds that, while the emphasis will be shared with cost saving, new technology does offer some answers to reducing expenditure.

“The event attracts key mining personnel from Africa and, with mining having had a tough time over the past couple of years, it gives companies a chance to meet, network, share experiences and get a wider perspective on the future.”

Wampex, and the accompanying Western Africa Mining and Power Conference, known as Wampoc, should, according to Davidson, attract about 1 600 visitors. This is similar to Wampex 2014, where 1 680 visitors attended from 25 countries.

“The Ghanaian government is focused on power supply to feed expansion across many sectors, but considers mining as a priority. Moreover, power generation has become important for the whole of Africa, along with the focus on renewable energy,” she says.

Wampex 2016 will introduce the topic of renewable energy, while discussing technologies from hydroelectric to solar power, especially with regard to the mining sector, Davidson points out.

She adds that between 50 and 100 companies are expected to attend, with exhibitors from China, the United Arab Emirates, France, Poland, South Africa, the UK and Turkey confirmed.

“There are proactive suppliers who recognise that Wampex, with its history and following, offers an unrivalled opportunity to meet and do business with major stakeholders.”

Western African Chamber of Mines

The newly formed West Africa Chamber of Mines (Wacom), which consists of CEOs from the Chambers of Mines (CoMs) in Ghana, Mali, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Burkina Faso, will be inaugurated at Wampex.

“The new chamber’s participation in Wampex is an excellent opportunity to publicise and market it to all the key mining operators and suppliers in the region,” states Ghanaian CoM external relations and communications director Ahmed Nantogmah.

Davidson agrees, noting that “Wampex is a great forum to explain what the chamber plans to do in the West African mining industry”, adding that visitors will also have face-to-face access to the chamber’s leaders.

This sentiment is shared by Ghanaian CoM external relations and communications manager Derick Romero Adolga, who states that the Ghanaian chamber’s relevance and visibility “soars” after each event.

“Wampex is ideal for promoting learning between countries with experience in exploiting minerals, showcasing sustainable models and improving business efficiency and growth in the sector,” he adds.

The inclusion of Wacom and the Ghanaian CoM at Wampex 2016 will shed light on trading challenges that countries and mines in the region face. The event will tackle challenges which are closing the tap on sorely needed revenue. This includes the rise of weaker global economies, especially those importing gold, as well as tax Acts that are threatening competitiveness in the industry and rising regulatory and licensing disputes effecting operations.