This year’s mining, industrial and power generation exhibition Electra Mining Botswana, taking place from September 1 to 3 at the Gaborone Fair Grounds, will feature daily free-to-attend seminars in the Ditshupo Hall.

Exhibition management company Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery mining and industrial portfolio director Charlene Hefer tells Mining Weekly that these seminars “will provide insightful industry information vital to business”.

While the final list of seminars had not been concluded at the time of going to print, she notes that seminars will cover the latest developments in Botswana’s mining and minerals industry while providing insight into the country’s exploration opportunities.

There will also be a session dedicated to the future of power generation, which will provide a macro perspective of the opportunities and possible scenarios impacting on this sector.

Further, there will also be a session to discuss the latest infrastructure developments in Botswana, particularly the Trans-Kalahari railway line, which will connect Botswana to Namibia’s Atlantic coast, as well as a seminar evaluating investment opportunities and strategic financial and investment plans.

Further, Hefer points out that Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery expects a 5% to 10% increase in attendance numbers, compared with the previous exhibition held in 2013.

She notes that Electra Mining Botswana, which will have a 2 000 m2 exhibition floor this year, has been strategically developed for visitor and exhibitor convenience by grouping businesses from related industries under one roof.

“Visitors can expect to see a wide range of products and services pertaining to mining, industrial engineering and manufacturing, electrical engineering, power generation, materials handling, safety, health and environmental safety, machine tools and construction,” Hefer says.

Further, she highlights that visitors can interact with the 120 exhibitors at Electra Mining Botswana, who will provide demonstrations of their latest products, technologies and innovations, as well as technical information and expert advice.

Hefer notes that a particular highlight for Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery in organising Electra Mining Botswana is the continued support of the Botswana government, with the event being endorsed by the country’s Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, as well as its Chamber of Mines.

“The Ministry has expressed the importance of the exhibition to the mining, construction and power generation industries, as it brings major technology and suppliers together,” she says, pointing out that the Ministry’s permanent secretary Onthusitse Melaetsa has said that the event plays an important role in strengthening relationships in Botswana’s mining industry, and in providing a platform to view and buy the latest mining technologies and source project funding.

The Ministry’s relocation and opportunities coordinator Mmetla Masire says: “This event fills a vacuum that existed in Botswana. It now brings a show that is specialised and dedicated to the mining, power generation and related industries, and I would highly recommend it to potential exhibitors and those wanting to see the latest offerings in the market.”

Botswana has a well-developed mining sector, with the excavating of rich mineral reserves a significant driver of its economic growth, Hefer says, concluding that Electra Mining Botswana “is not just a mining show”, as it will provide an enabling environment for visitors and exhibitors to network with key decision-makers and make valuable business connections.