Programme in

Technical and
Operational
Surface Mining
Excellence
Presented by the Department of
Mining Engineering, University
of Pretoria

5 ECSA CPD Points 5 SACNASP CPD Points

Brief description
The Programme in Technical and Operational Surface Mining Excellence has been developed to provide you with the
technical knowledge that will enable you to become an effective, value-driven manager at a surface mine. Through this
programme, you will be exposed to a wide variety of technical and operational aspects of a surface mining, rather than being
trained in the details of operating a mine.

The programme content covers the typical value chain for a surface mine, commencing with exploration and mineral resource
estimation, followed by strategic and long-term planning aspects of a surface mine. You will be exposed to mine layouts, shell
optimisation, pit design, value adding production scheduling, cost estimation, and budgeting. All the aspects of mineral resource
management are covered, as well as the selection, productive performance, and maintenance of heavy mining equipment.
Performance management, operational control and efficiency improvements of the production processes (drill, blast, strip, load
and haul) form an integral part of the programme, with reference to support services, mine
rehab and closure as well as statutory requirements.

You will be made aware of new technologies and leading software packages to assist the manager of a 2030 mine. The
importance of seeking value adds opportunities through the interdependencies in the value chain of a mining operation from
resource definition to marketing of the metal or coal is conveyed through this programme.

Who should enrol? Course fee:

Face to face in Pretoria: R34 959.00 per
This course is ideal for you if you need to develop delegate (VAT incl.)
your technical and operational knowledge of surface Course fees must be paid in full 14 days prior to
mining. This can include, mining engineering grad- course start dates. Proof of payment can be
uates, persons in a management position on a mine, submitted to [email protected]
mine planning engineers, personnel who wants to
make a change to technical or operational career
paths on a surface mine, and analysts in stock Dates:
exchange, banks or auditing companies who Face to face in Pretoria:
want to learn about surface mining. 09 February 2024- 08 November 2024

Shifting knowledge to insight

+27 (0)12 434 2500 www.enterprises.up.ac.za

[email protected] For quotations on in-house training,
email [email protected]
Programme content
The programme focuses on both technical and operational aspects of surface mining, also incorporating safety, health,
environmental and social considerations:

General concepts and background Mining equipment

• Introduction • Types of primary equipment
• Current and future trends • Selection of primary equipment
• Markets, pricing and trading • Equipment requirements and
• Types of surface mining replacements
• Surface mining terminology • Support/secondary equipment
• Equipment performance
• Performance and production control
Exploration, sampling and resource ystems
estimation • Mining equipment maintenance
• Mineral endowment • Energy
• Exploration methods • Procurement, stores and logistics
• Sampling methods • New technology
• Block models – for resource modelling • Safety systems and legal/regulatory
• Resource estimation methods requirements
• Mineral resource reporting codes and
management
Production scheduling
• Production strategies and goals
Strategic mine planning • Mining methods
• Understanding the value chain • Strategic scheduling optimisation
• High level cost and revenue estimation • Business plan scheduling
• Strategic planning methods and software • Dynamic modelling
• Projects – Green and Brownfield • Short term production scheduling
developments • Short interval controls

Mineral resource management

• General geology knowledge requirements Mining production operations
• Grade control methods and value-based • Mining process (drill, blast, strip, load,
ore control haul): buffers and constraints, KPA’s, KPI’s
• Cut-off grades and quality control
• Ore stockpile management • Mining operations benchmarking
• Concentrator feed control • Operational efficiency improvements
• Hydrogeology • Support services
• Geotechnical management • Mining contracts and contractor
• Survey systems management
• Mine rehab and closure
• Operating procedures, legal and
statutory requirements
Processing
• Concentration
• Smelting and refining
• Coal beneficiation Mine layout, LOM planning and pit design
• Mining – processing interdependencies • Surface infrastructure requirements
• Reticulations and roads
• Environmental considerations and legal
requirements
Costing, financial models and budgeting
• Communities and social responsibilities
• Operating and capital cost categories
• Mine planning block models
• Fixed and variable costs
• LG optimisations and terms of reference
• New equipment capital cost and approvals
• Pit shell selection, pit design criteria and
• Sources of cost estimation
design software
• Budgeting
• Ore stockpile and waste dump designs
• Financial parameters and valuation criteria

Shifting knowledge to insight

+27 (0)12 434 2500 www.enterprises.up.ac.za

[email protected] For quotations on in-house training,
email [email protected]
Programme in
Technical and
Operational
Surface Mining
Excellence
Presented by the Department of
Mining Engineering, University
of Pretoria

Notes Learning Outcomes

• Class attendance is compulsory for all After successfully completing this course, through
contact sessions understanding the value creation opportunities within a
• There will not be a catch up session for missed surface mining operation, you will have been empowered
modules and delegates are required to study on to make effective decisions about the operational
their own management, efficiency and improvement initiatives and
• Assignments for all modules are compulsory the technical aspects of the mining operation as well as the
even if you missed a module irrespective of the rest of the value chain.
circumstances
• Pass mark for each module is 50%

Programme Schedule

Date Contact Modules Registration Lecture

Days Times Times
09 February 2024 X1 Day General concepts and background 07:30 – 08:00 08:00–16:30

08 March 2024 X1 Day Exploration, sampling and resource estimation 07:30 – 08:00 08:00–16:30

05 April 2024 X1 Day Strategic mine planning 07:30 – 08:00 08:00–16:30

03 May 2024 X1 Day Mineral resource management 07:30 – 08:00 08:00–16:30

07 June 2024 X1 Day Mine layout, LOM planning and pit design 07:30 – 08:00 08:00–16:30

05 July 2024 X1 Day Mining equipment 07:30 – 08:00 08:00–16:30

02 August 2024 X1 Day Production scheduling 07:30 – 08:00 08:00–16:30

06 September X1 Day Mining production operations 07:30 – 08:00 08:00–16:30

2024 Costing, Budgeting and Financial

04 October 2024 X1 Day Parameters 07:30 – 08:00 08:00–16:30

08 November 2024 X1 Day Processing 07:30 – 08:00 08:00–16:30

Shifting knowledge to insight

+27 (0)12 434 2500 www.enterprises.up.ac.za

[email protected] For quotations on in-house training,
email [email protected]
Programme in
Technical and
Operational
Surface Mining
Excellence
Presented by the Department of
Mining Engineering, University
of Pretoria

Course delivery mode options: Course leader

Face to face sessions in Pretoria Prof Ronny Webber-Youngman
Department of Mining Engineering
Tel: +27 (0)12 420 3763
Entry Requirements: Email: [email protected]
Prospective delegates should ideally have
technical and operational knowledge of surface Profile
mining. Prospective delegates without surface Prof Ronny Webber-Youngman
mining will however also be considered. Prof Webber-Youngman started his professional career
in the gold mining industry, being employed in various
positions at Hartebeestfontein Gold Mine, Stilfontein,
Accreditation and certification Lorraine Gold Mines, Allanridge, and HJ Joel Gold Mining
Company in the Free State between 1978 and 1993.
Enterprises University of Pretoria (Pty) Ltd is wholly He joined the University of Pretoria as a senior lecturer in
owned by the University of Pretoria. As a public higher 1997 and was appointed Associate Professor and Head of
education institution, the University of Pretoria functions Department in 2007.
in accordance to the Higher Education Act 101 of 1997.
Enterprises University of Pretoria offers short courses on He is a fellow of the Mine Ventilation Society of South
behalf of the University and these short courses are not Africa and a member of the Association of Mine Managers
credit-bearing, and do not lead to formal qualifications on of South Africa. He also serves on the International Society
the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) – unless of Mine Professors, as a former executive member for Africa
stated otherwise. Delegates who successfully complete (until 2019) and former President of this society (2013 to
a short course and comply with the related assessment 2014). He continues to be actively involved with the
criteria (where applicable) are awarded certificates of Society’s activities, especially those of the Education
successful completion and/or attendance by the University Committee.
of Pretoria.
His areas of expertise include mining engineering, mine
ventilation engineering, virtual reality applications in
mining, project management, and mine management and
Registration and enquiries leadership. He has authored or co-authored several
chapters in Ventilation Q and A workbooks and three
Client Information Centre chapters in the updated Mine Ventilation Engineering
Tel: +27 (0)12 434 2500 handbook. He has published 47 articles in peer-reviewed
Fax: +27 (0)12 434 2505 conferences and refereed journals, and has supervised or
Email: [email protected] co-supervised 28 postgraduate research projects to date.

Shifting knowledge to insight

+27 (0)12 434 2500 www.enterprises.up.ac.za

[email protected] For quotations on in-house training,
email [email protected]