DRC Industry Minister Aimé Boji Sangara headed for Kolwezi to address Battery Metals Forum

“DRC Industry Minister Aimé Boji Sangara headed for Kolwezi to address Battery Metals Forum”

H.E. Aimé Boji Sangara, the Minister of State in DRC’s Ministry of Industry will attend and address the upcoming DRC–Africa Battery Metals Forum, taking place from 29 to 30 September in Kolwezi.

“We are truly honoured to welcome such a seasoned statesman, economist, and reformer to the third edition of the forum,” says Samukelo Madlabane, Event Director: Mining, VUKA Group, the organisers of the event. The Ministry of Industry is an official partner of DRC–Africa Battery Metals Forum, along with the Ministry of Mining and FEC (Fédération des entreprises du Congo). Madlabane adds: “Government support is key in creating downstream industrialisation and beneficiation in order to shape an inclusive and equitable critical minerals industry in the DRC. These are also important themes in our programme. We look forward to the Minister’s message during the opening session on Day 1.”

Experienced engineer and manager
H.E. Aimé Boji Sangara is highly regarded as an executive leader in the industrial and mining sector, with over 15 years of experience in engineering, project management, continuous improvement, maintenance, and asset management. He graduated from the University of Lubumbashi and began his career in one of the major mining groups in the region before joining MMG Limited, where he served as Electrical Superintendent, Director of Maintenance & Engineering, Operations Director, and later, as Director of Stakeholder Relations.

H.E. Aimé Boji Sangara is a specialist in copper and cobalt process reliability and management, and he combines technical expertise with strategic vision, committed to innovation, sustainable energy supply security, and overall sustainability.

Leveraging foreign interest
This theme of DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum is “Leveraging foreign interest in critical minerals to boost the country’s economy.”

The forum will gather government entities, mining operators, industry leaders, investors, EPCs, OEMs, processing and exploration technology providers, infrastructure developers, financiers, legal advisors, and policymakers to align strategies and forge pathways that will accelerate industrialisation.

More speaker and moderator highlights at Africa-DRC Battery Metals Forum include:

• Romain Deniel, Country Director, Arise IIP, DRC
• Prof. Hercule Kalele Mulonda, Technical Director, CCB and Representative of CAEB, DRC
• Dieudonné Been Masudi, Consultant in charge of the energy transition programme, AFREWATCH, DRC
• Aubin Tshibanda, Critical Minerals Researcher, University of Liège, Belgium
• Steve Nsenda Tshilumbu, Associate Professor, University of CPUT/UNILU, South Africa
• Denis Lecouturier, Managing Director, CCB, DRC
• Susannah McLaren, Head of Responsible Sourcing & Sustainability, Cobalt Institute, United Kingdom
• Celestin Kibeya, Director General, Cominière, DRC
• H.E. Fifi Masuka Saini, Governor, Lualaba Province, DRC
• Uwe Naeher, Professional Geologist, ISEBAR, DRC
• Thierry Naweji, Executive Chairman, DRC-SA Chamber of Commerce, SA
• Benitha Tambwe, Expert-Head of Strategic Partnerships DRC Ministry of Mines (CTCPM), DRC

Download the full conference programme here.

About DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum
DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum is organised by The VUKA Group (formerly Clarion Events Africa), a leading Cape Town-based and multi-award-winning organiser of exhibitions, conferences and digital events across the continent in the infrastructure, energy, mining, mobility, ecommerce and CX sectors. Other well-known events by The Vuka Group include DRC Mining Week, Nigeria Mining Week, Enlit Africa, Africa’s Green Economy Summit, Carbon Markets Africa Summit, Smarter Mobility Africa, ECOM Africa and CEM Africa. Mining Review Africa, the leading monthly magazine and digital platform in the African mining industry, is the event’s premium media partne

DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum dates and venue:
Date: 29-30 September 2025
Venue: Kampi Ya Boma, Kolwezi, DRC

Website: https://www.drc-africabatterymetals.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BatteryDrc
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/BatteryMetalsDRC/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/africa-battery-metals-drc/

Media contact:
Annemarie Roodbol
Email: annemarie.roodbol@wearevuka.com