On 17th November 2009, BIA Overseas inaugurated the Komatsu Dakar Training Centre in the presence of Mr Abdoulaye Faye, Minister Adviser to the President of the .The centre, based in - , provides training for our French-speaking mechanics in for all technical work (maintenance and repairs) on Komatsu mining equipment. It also trains our customers’ mechanics to maintain the same equipment. In addition, the Komatsu Dakar Training Centre organises hands-on training courses for both beginners and experienced machine operators on site.

The centre is run by a Japanese manager, who is responsible for Product Support, and by the BIA Overseas Service Manager Mining. The training are performed by 5 trainers, 1 of whom is Japanese, 2 European and 2 African.

The aim of this centre is to enable BIA and its customers to have skilled mechanics who are specifically trained on Komatsu machines. And by training plant operators, the centre also enables the equipment to be used properly, which generates other advantages, namely more safety and more productivity of the plant.

The Komatsu Dakar Training Centre is a joint initiative by KOMATSU and BIA which, together, are able to provide effective solutions tailored to the needs of their mining customers.