Online Reporter
ZIMBABWE has in recent months seen a surge in exploration and production activity in the gold mining sector, on the back of record high gold prices, which has made the yellow metal look it’s most attractive ever.
Unsurprisingly, the surge has meant more activity in related industries, with demand for downstream and upstream services surging along. With gold trading at a record high US$3 500 an ounce, which it hit in April, services such as laboratory services have recorded higher activity from explorers and miners alike.
The international media has recently recorded concerns from various players in the mining industry bemoaning delays from laboratories overwhelmed by samples from mining and exploration and hence throttling quick service and progress.
However, Mr Edson Luwobo, the manager of Zimbabwe’s leading certified laboratory, Antech Laboratories, has stepped in to allay fears, stating that the world class laboratory service provider is up to the task and ready to save the day.
“We indeed understand that there may be the possibility of our competitors and counterparts in the industry being overwhelmed with a marked rise in interest and activity around mining and exploration buoyed by a shiny attractive price of gold but want to assure existing and prospective clients that the challenge remains for us but a breeze,” said Mr Luwobo.
“In fact, ahead of the record price of gold we had already read the cosmos and started expanding in line with various regional needs to cut down turnaround time of our activities. As such, we even opened a new laboratory in Bulawayo, which has eased pressure on our competitors while offering certified and more reliable data and services to our clients, who are pleased with our performance,” he added.
Mr Luwobo revealed that owing to their impressive performance as well as branch expansion, they have grown their clientele significantly and as a result many new clients are now on their books with calls from other regions that they further decentralise and come closer to them.
This is a call that Antech Laboratories has heeded, says Mr Luwobo.
“Because we have not been overwhelmed by the increased activity and in fact contrary to assertions by some industry players, we have become all the more efficient, we have felt the need to further grow to fresh frontiers. We soon will be adding another branch in Matabeleland South, namely Filabusi, to ease the pressure on miners and explorers there while also looking at south of the Midlands for possible further expansion in line with demand,” he added.
Antech, cognisant of the need to partner with smaller players in the industry and bring convenience to artisanal and small-scale mining in line with Government’s philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind, hope to boost their presence in the outback and uncharted mining enclaves.
“We shall be partnering with both small and big players to ensure seamless and convenient services for all. We also shall be holding key consultations as well as tete-a-tetes with new and existing clients at October’s Mine Entra mining indaba in Bulawayo as we continue to surge ahead as the leading name in mining and exploration related laboratory services in the nation,” concluded Mr Luwobo.
