Let’s start with some background on Smartflow. You have a proud history
Established in 2009, Smartflow Technologies is a leading technology and engineering company with proven expertise in the design, supply, installation and maintenance of fluid/fuel management systems and solutions. Operations started in Lagos in 2009 with only 6 staff, and today we have grown our business to 200+ staff, offices around Nigeria and a technical support office in Brisbane Australia (Smartflow Technologies Pty Ltd).
Tell us about your services and clients.
Our specialized solutions cater to the unique needs of various industries, including mining, agriculture, construction, manufacturing, retail, marine, aviation, transport/logistics, embassies, international organisations and many more. Our client list is vast and covers most of the Top 500 companies in Nigeria, multinationals and other smaller companies.
Where in Africa are you active and where are you looking to for growth?
We are mostly active in Nigeria and in a few West African countries. We looking to expand into other West African countries and Central Africa.
How important is the Nigerian market for your organisation?
Our business started in Nigeria; it is our central hub from which all our operations are managed. We are 100% structured around this market and system, it works very well for us. The Nigerian market is extremely important for our organisation and as it matures year on year, it gives us more confidence in our overall business sustainability.
How excited are you about the burgeoning mining sector in Nigeria and what does this mean for your business there?
Smartflow has been servicing the mining sector for more than 15 years and we are particularly excited about the policies and focus on the sector in the last 2 years that have seen activities grow in the sector, creating the opportunity for servicing companies like Smartflow to make more of an impact in the industry. We are excited and hope to grow our footprint in the sector.
Which stand-out mining projects are you involved in in Nigeria? We are involved in quite a number of fuel and lube management projects in Nigeria. Most of the projects involve managing fuel deliveries and consumption using our Automatic Tank Gauge system and also dispense to equipment using our Fuel
Management Systems. Some of our key clients for these projects include Ashaka Cement, Lafarge, Dangote, African pits to mention a few..
Is the Nigerian government doing the right things and sending the right messages to prospective investors in the mining sector?
We have seen positive effects of Government policy/reforms and a great focus on the mining sector that is not only sending the right messages to prospective investors but also creating an enabling environment for growth and sustainability of the companies in the sector.
From a legal advisory standpoint, what positive changes have you seen in the industry in the last 10 years?
We have seen the industry become a lot more structured with reforms and policies that protect the investors better as well as local content policies protecting the Nigerian people and resources better.
Smartflow is a bronze sponsor at the upcoming Nigeria Mining Week. How important is this annual gathering of the mining industry?
This is our first exhibition at Nigeria Mining Week. We attended the last two as visitors and saw great value in the gathering of mining companies, equipment suppliers, other servicing companies and the Nigerian Government representatives. The discussions and engagements that happen at Nigeria Mining Week are so productive that we decided to go one step further to be a sponsor this year.
This year is the tenth edition of Nigeria Mining Week. Your thoughts?
We had no idea Nigeria Mining Week has been running for 10 years. This is a great achievement and quite encouraging. We look forward to celebrating 20 years as sponsors at Nigeria Mining Week.
What will be your message at the event this year?
1) The Nigerian Government needs to ensure continuity in its support for this industry, even when there is a change in administration.
2) Fuel cost is a significant part of any mining operation’s costs. Smartflow’s job is to make sure that ‘Every drop counts’!