Kolwezi, DRC – 20 June 2025 Kamoa Copper marked a significant milestone in its commitment to workforce development with the signing ceremony of partnership with CMA&BTP and inauguration of courses in its Engineering Training Centre at the Kamoa Centre of Excellence (KCE) complex.
The event was attended by a high-level delegation led by Senator Jean Bamanisa and Mr Hervé Kisula, President of the BTP & CMA Club, alongside key representatives from the Federation of Enterprises of the Congo (FEC) and the Regulatory Authority for Subcontracting in the Private Sector (ARSP).
The visit included a tour of the new electrical workshop and a demonstration of the artisanal training program. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to align local skills with international standards and to certify Congolese workers through a nationally and internationally recognised framework.
“This ceremony marks a pivotal milestone for Kamoa Copper in our commitment to empowering our workforce with globally recognized skills that meet international standards,” said Annebel Oosthuizen, Managing Director of Kamoa Copper.
The partnership with BTP & CMA aims to establish a national framework for training and certification, with annual and triennial audits to ensure quality and consistency. Kamoa Copper will serve as the pilot company, helping to roll out these standards across the mining sector.
“The launch of our engineering training center—beginning with the electrical workshop—creates a dedicated space for local talent to enhance their capabilities and elevate the value of vocational and artisanal work.
Our goal is not only to ensure high-quality outcomes but also to make our Congolese workforce export ready. As pioneers in many areas, Kamoa Copper is proud to be the first mining company to partner with BTP & CMA to offer internationally accredited training and certification. This initiative reflects our core value of Excellence in everything we do, and we hope it sets a precedent that inspires the broader mining industry to follow.” said Mrs. Annebel.
“This is not just a partnership, it’s a blueprint for the future of work in the DRC.” said Mr Kisula, President of BTP & CMA Association.
To date, 87 electricians have joined the first training cohort. Their skills are being assessed through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process, after which they will follow tailored training paths. The initiative is supported by a governance body that includes Kamoa Copper and is aligned with ISO 9001:2015 quality standards—a first for artisanal training in the DRC.
The event symbolised a strong alignment between the public and private sectors and civil society, united by a shared goal: equipping Congolese talent with the tools to thrive in a transforming global economy.