PALABORA MINING COMPANY ( PMC )
AFRICA bought a new lease of life for this region . PMC has benefited from China ’ s policy of investment overseas , particularly in Africa . They see Palabora as a showcase for that policy , securing copper and iron ore supplies , a business success story and also a launching pad for their Africa policy . We are fortunate to be in this situation !”
Most fortunate of all in the eyes of Maboko Mahlaole is the fact that PMC will continue to be able to employ large numbers of local people , and improve life for their families . “ Unemployment in this region is over 30 percent . Fortunately at Palabora we have a training centre , accredited by the Department of Higher Learning , where we already run a lot of courses . We train fitters , boilermakers , electricians , rock breakers and other trades .
“ So we have a large training footprint of our own within the business . But in the light of the expansion project , we have partnered with the contractors like Murray & Roberts and Master Drillers to put together a programme to standardise training . At the same time we brought in the community leaders and local authorities to ensure there is fairness in employment .”
Having seen the problems that can rise in large projects such as the stadium building programme for the 2010 World Cup and some of Eskom ’ s energy programmes , he believes it ’ s important not to over-fuel community expectations , while making sure that community based service providers get a fair share of the
RD8 Raise Bore machine being constructed on site
“ We brought in the community leaders and local authorities to ensure there is fairness in employment ”
– Maboko Mahlaole , Acting CEO
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