Urbanus Human (Palabora)

In my current role as Technical Superintendent, I oversee day to day mine planning, mine geology, grade control to ensure delivery of operational mine planning and technical services functions. I direct a team Geologists, Mine Planners and other professionals for the development and delivery of mining schedules to achieve mine plans on weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual basis. I develop and implement long and short term plans of all mining deposits with a keen focus on cost control and reduction. I administer annual financial budget according to mine planning to ensure optimum operational success. I maintain Legal and safety compliance of all teams in terms of the mine health and safety act. I develop weekly/monthly/yearly reconciliation & production reports to ensure an informed decision making. Some of my key accomplishments are: Reduced onsite vermiculite stockpiles by 60-80%. through execution of day to day mine planning. Decreased blasted costs by 25 % by ensuring optimum number of floor material. Secured 12% for 2019 operational budget by executing annual process improvement/cost saving initiative program. Established process improvement that decreased budget from 61M Rand to 57M rand over a period four years. Identified the need of skills improvement and established a Development program for junior staff to ensure operational achievement through succession planning. 

In my previous role, I led technical teams for mine planning, scheduling and grade control for the vermiculite, surface copper and magnetite deposits, as well as a mining team of 280 contractors responsible for mining of the magnetite deposits. I ensured legal and safety compliance of all teams in terms of the mine health and safety act. I developed annual financial budgeting according to mine planning to ensure optimum operational success. I executed long and short term planning of all mining deposits. I developed Weekly/monthly/yearly reconciliation and production reports with to identify daily/monthly operation expenditures. I enabled daily grade control of vermiculite and magnetite mine to the plant for optimum product beneficiation. Following were key accomplishments that I attained: Exceeded production targets and achieved 8.65M tons against a plan of 6.8M tons of magnetite without a LTI, that generated additional revenue for the company. Executed selective mining process and mined additional copper from low grade copper dumps to supply the process with 20 % additional copper for the year. Delivered executive-level services and nominated out of 90 for NQF 7 diploma through Stellenbosch USB Executive Development Business School.

While working as Technical Superintendent (Vermiculite and Magnetite), I oversaw technical staff for mine planning and reviewed mining schedules, plans and designs as required and monitored progress, manning levels and productivity analysis including budget and costs. I spearheaded exploration drilling of the magnetite mining deposit for better grade control purposes. I delivered exploration strategy, systems, and continuous improvement initiatives. I ensured compliance of the Group Geosciences & Exploration Technical Standards, strategy, policies, procedures, engineering specifications, standards and codes of practice. I provided financial analysis and implementation of cost reduction initiatives. Initiated monthly development program for junior staff to ensure operational achievement through succession planning. Key Contributions: Improved the operating philosophy of the magnetite operations to adapt due to low commodity prices. Developed and implemented most cost effective method for mining of the magnetite tailing dump. Transformed from conventional load and haul mining to hydro- mining. Reduced operating costs by 35% by completing project within eight months under budgetary constraints.

While working as Technical Superintendent (Vermiculite Mining), I managed a mining team of 40 operators and 14 contractors responsible for mining of the vermiculite deposits. I developed annual financial budget for mine planning to ensure optimum operational success. I proactively led the compilation and implementation of standards and systems relating to mine geology, resource estimation, and exploration services. I commanded the effective application of mine geology, resource estimation and exploration systems as well as delivery of services to the company. Key Contribution: Evaluated mining equipment maintenance costs and stop old equipment (outsource work to a contractor with new equipment that reduced annual costs by 35 %).

My role involves leading a team of two technical personnel doing the entire mine planning, scheduling and grade control for the vermiculite deposits. Responsibilities: • Safety of all personnel • Long and short term planning of vermiculite mining deposits • Daily grade control practice through effective monitoring and communication. • ROM stockpile management to ensure proper material feed to the mill. • Weekly blast hole reconciliation between plan vs actual • Monthly orebody reconciliation reports • Vermiculite resource estimation • Training Graduate Geologist, technicians and samplers on the standards for face chips sampling and grade control practices Project brown fields & tailings dump exploration Duties and Responsibilities: • Managing/planning a production-drilling project to establish the vermiculite grade of a historical dump to increase the current life of mine. • Supervising RC drilling and logging of chips and data entrance in the Acquire Database • Designing of drilling layout according to orebody knowledge • Daily supervision of drilling contractor • Daily soil/chip sampling • Daily interpretation of drilled holes to ensure drill layout planning is still in the wright direction. • Drill layout plan versus actual reconciliation • Managing of the daily QAQC system for the project

My role involves leading a team of drilling contractors to do the underground exploration drilling for the copper lift 2 extensions. I was also responsible for all drilling invoices and core logging Responsibilities: • Safety of all personnel • Running and planning of an underground exploration drilling program • Development of geological/geotechnical database incorporating information from all possible sources • Supervision of underground exploration drilling • Core logging and geological interpretations based on drilling results • Development of a QAQC system for exploration program • Monthly running of drilling contractor accounts • Ensuring all procedures adhere to health and safety regulations and pit mapping. • Liaising with a range of experts including other geologists, engineers, metallurgy experts and mine workers. • Weekly/monthly/yearly grade control and production reports

My role involves leading a team of drilling contractors to do gold exploration in Pilgrim’s rest using RVC and Diamond drilling methods. I also did the entire core logging (Chips and Core) as well as planning of all exploration drill holes Responsibilities: • Safety of all personnel • Daily planning and executing of exploration strategy to ensure we stay within the prospecting right • Managing of contractor drilling (Diamond, RVC) according to conditions • Resources management (equipment and manpower) according to requirements • Core logging and geological interpretations based on drilling results • Soil sampling, test pit logging and sampling • Weekly/monthly/yearly grade control and production reports • Drill layout plan versus actual reconciliation

The Senior Management Development Programme (SMDP) aims to equip senior managers with the necessary knowledge, leadership and change management skills to function effectively within a corporate environment.