Exclusive interview with Sherif Hosny, Business Development Manager – MEA, at Minelab, returning gold sponsors at the upcoming Nigeria Mining Week.
Let’s start with some background about Minelab. What is the company’s unique offering?
Minelab specialises in metal detecting equipment to artisanal small-scale gold mining communities throughout the globe and specifically Africa. Our products are revolutionising how gold miners search for gold nuggets in some of the world’s most difficult soil conditions. Our GPZ 7000 and GPX Series detectors find gold much deeper than any other detector in the world in all ground conditions, and our SDC 2300 and Gold Monster 1000 detectors are extremely sensitive to small gold at shallower depths. Minelab puts great focus on R&D and engineering at its Head Office in Adelaide, South Australia to ensure that each and every detector is the best in its class. Minelab relies on a group of strong and authorised dealers and service centres that provide expertise, sales, repair, service and training to our end user customers.
Minelab identifies three elements symbolising key strategic areas of commitment to local small-scale mining communities. We believe that developing the connections between prospecting, community and environment best reflects our long-term vision towards a successful, sustainable future for these mining communities. Using Minelab detectors means that, when the miners dig, they dig for a reason and, in the labour-intensive world of small-scale gold mining, the ability to find more gold with accuracy and safety is critical. In gold mining areas, traditional mining practices continue to present hazards and risk to gold miners and the environment. Prospecting with Minelab offers an alternative that offers clear-cut environmental benefits with best practice.
How excited is Minelab about Nigeria’s burgeoning mining industry, and why?
Minelab is always eager to participate in mining-related events, especially in Nigeria, where we can see a lot of potential for artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) activities. On the hand, we aim to meet with local companies that can be a future potential partner or distributor for Minelab, and from the other hand, we also aim to meet with small scale miners to introduce them and educate them on the various Minelab models that will make their life easier in the field.
In your view, is the Nigerian government doing the right things to attract investment to develop the extractive sector and stimulate job creation?
I believe that the government has been working hard since 2006 on the artisanal and small-scale mining sector, trying to formalise and assist the artisanal and small-scale miners in various ways:
What are the challenges in doing business in the region? And the opportunities?
Our way of doing business is B2B, so in each country or each region we normally have a local partner that represents the Minelab brand, selling Minelab products and doing the after-sales support. It is quite a challenge to find the right partner in Nigeria who is willing to work hard in the field, be available in the small-scale artisanal mining areas, send sales representatives into the field and open shops in the villages near the most important mining areas.
Another point is that the Minelab teams travel extensively to remote gold mining communities, providing training and direct support in the goldfields. Spending time to understand the needs of artisanal small-scale gold miners and investing in local development initiatives is always of mutual benefit. In this regard, it is quite challenging to do so in an environment that has high security and logistical risks, such as in the case of Nigeria’s “Zamfara” region.
Minelab has been a longstanding supporter of Nigeria Mining Week. How important is this event on the mining industry’s annual calendar?
Nigeria Mining week is always an interesting event on Minelab’s calendar. At such events, we usually have the chance to meet with small-scale artisanal miners and demonstrate how our product works. We also count on meeting with public sector officials and private local companies who might be interested in working with Minelab in the future.
How has the event contributed to your success in the industry in your view?
Participating in NMW always leaves a positive mark in terms of brand awareness, meeting with new people, meeting with government officials and meeting with small-scale miners.