MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB:
To produce short-term mine plans and related planning documents to ensure the optimal depletion of the Swakop Uranium (SU) mineral resources, which support the achievement of the Company’s strategic business goals and objectives.
Key Performance Areas:
- Interpret directives on short-term objectives in order to set parameters for the ten-year forecast.
- Study current trends of mining, e.g. performance of major machine types, plant throughput, application of new technologies, and consult management to ascertain future intentions, and incorporate these factors into the planning techniques.
- Conduct an iterative optimizing process for the five-year forecast in order to achieve optimum and most effective short-term forecast, taking mining constraints into consideration.
- Liaise with the supervisor to confirm short-term plans and to pinpoint anomalies.
- Develop and propose new Shell design for approval and implementation.
- Prepare and update sets of short-term mine plans to accommodate new approved pit shells, changes in mill feed call, deviations to mine plan and new operational constraints.
- Evaluate data and compile new series of plans within set parameters, i.e. sequencing face positions for five years plan in increments of three months, with annual plans thereafter.
- Determine vehicle-operating geometries, sinking rates, shovel loading positions and access.
- Investigate and resolve potential bottlenecks within the plan, such as the joining of ramp systems.
- Prepare and present long term plans to senior mine management for approval.
- Communicate and develop short-term mine plans to deliver long-term planning outcomes.
- Complete short-term mine planning in a timely manner in order to optimize efficiencies in mining operations.
- Liaise with mining operations, geology and processing plant personnel, to ensure the integrity and acceptance of the plans.
- Plan, initiate and develop the mine’s daily, weekly and monthly plans.
- Monitor daily adherence to the mine plan and compliance with all regulatory requirements.
- Compile weekly and monthly plan versus actual reports and forecasts and uses this information in quarterly updates of the short-term schedules.
- Assimilate relevant historical performance data from different mining cuts onto face files, to establish parameters for future mining in that area.
- Provide timely guidance to the department on safe mine planning and operational issues, including mining perimeter layout and mining activities sequencing.
- Use the short-term schedule to produce options resulting from changes of scope or any other event or condition likely to affect the current mine planning forecast.
- Improve the effectiveness of the Mine Planning section and hence the competitiveness of the mine, by challenging existing or traditionally accepted concepts and procedures.
- Analyze monthly production schedule in discussion with relevant stakeholders before producing the monthly production plan.
- Make recommendations, after discussion with production personnel, to overcome any potential or present short-term problems in order to achieve original production forecasts.
- Provide input into producing of mining budgets and forecasts as required.
- Assimilate relevant historical performance data from different mining cuts onto face files, to establish parameters for future mining in that area.
- Use the short-term schedule to produce options resulting from changes of scope or any other event or condition likely to affect the current mine planning forecast.
- Analyze monthly production schedule in discussion with relevant stakeholders before producing the monthly production plan.
- Provide recommendations, after discussion with production personnel, to overcome any potential or present short-term problems in order to achieve original production forecasts.
- Provide input into the mining budget and forecasts as required.
Requirements and experience:
- BSc. / BTech Degree in Mining Engineering
- 3 Years mining experience in a mine planning environment.
- Working experience in grade control methodologies.
- Working experience in analyzing mining trends and compiling short term plans & forecasts.
- Registration or eligible for registration with the Engineering Council of Namibia.
- Knowledge of mining software packages.
- Knowledge of Mine Legal Requirements.
- Knowledge of open pit mining methods, strategies and Mineral Resources techniques.
- Mine operations – Ore extraction and equipment.
- SAP and Mine planning application packages.
- Valid Code B/BE Driver’s License.
