The West African Mining and Power Expo, is celebrating its 21st year as Africa’s biggest mining and power trade exhibition in the booming mining region of West Africa. This year, visitors to WAMPEX are invited to take part in several free workshops being hosted at the show. This is just one of the many benefits, features and attractions of this popular biennial event. WAMPEX takes place from 28 to 30 May at the Accra Convention Centre in Accra, Ghana.

Free Seminar hosted by GE

GE Intelligent Platforms will be hosting a free seminar on ‘High Performance Automation Solutions for Mining and Power’ at WAMPEX on 29 May 2014. GE Intelligent Platforms provides industrial software, control systems and embedded computing platforms to optimise their customers' assets and equipment.

“GE is aware that industries are experiencing difficult and volatile times,” says Johnny Teixeira, MEA regional manager: Mine Performance at GE. “Our customers are facing lower commodity prices, bearish forecasts, increasing costs and lower productivity. In fact, in 2012, the industry earned the lowest net profit margin since 2003.”

In order to improve margins, Teixeira says the industry should change its focus from capital expenditure to operational expenditure. The seminar speakers include GE mining experts Andre Badenhorst, solutions consultant manager; Johnny Teixeira, MEA regional manager: Mine Performance, and Arn de Lange, channel manager. They will discuss equipment and process challenges and provide insights on best practices and new technologies to help customers achieve their goals. Topics include operational visibility, availability and reliability, and performance optimisation.

First Time Pavilions at WAMPEX

This year WAMPEX hosts début pavilions from India and France, with 25 Indian and 16 French exhibitor companies showcasing products, services and equipment related to the mining and power industries. The French pavilion is hosted by international business development agency, Ubifrance. All participating companies are exploring opportunities in the West African power and mining sector and looking for joint ventures, partnerships and distributorships. Guillaume Anfray, Mining Sector Project Manager at Ubifrance, says WAMPEX presents a great opportunity for French companies to showcase their specialist ‘know-how’ in mining equipment and services.

“Ghana is considered a stable, leading mining country in the West African area; however, it is still widely unknown to most French companies accustomed to prospecting in neighbouring French-speaking countries,” says Anfray.

High Praise For WAMPEX

“I am happy that India is participating in WAMPEX 2014 as a partner country,” says Jeeva Kakaravada Sagar, High Commissioner of India in Ghana. “This country occupies pride of place in West Africa, and India, a major world economy, is a trusted developmental partner and friend of Ghana. Our collaboration at WAMPEX 2014 has the potential to generate immense mutual benefits. Ghana is rich in resources while Indian technology and expertise in mining and power is appropriate to and consistent with this friendly country’s developmental model. The coming together of these complementary strengths augurs well for the bilateral economic cooperation between India and Ghana.”

Rewards for Lucky Visitors

In celebration of the 21st anniversary of WAMPEX, two lucky visitors could win an apple iPad or a return flight ticket to South Africa, courtesy of South African Airways.