Uranium Production and Mining Education in Southern Africa Technical Meeting: Uranium Production Network IAEA, Vienna October 2012 Prof Nielen van der Merwe School of Mining Engineering University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg
Source: US Energy Information Administration OECD = Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
Source: www.wise-uranium.org
Rossing Mine, Namibia Arlit Mine, Niger South African gold mine
Does Africa need a network? Africa has abundant resources, more coming Continent largely under developed Political uncertainty (nationalisation?) Mining education under severe stress Substantial expertise in consultancies
Provider Network Links Consultants Hatch, TWP Consultants others will follow Universities Pretoria, Witwatersrand, University of Johannesburg Institute Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Home of mining technical societies in region Local branches in 5 provinces Regional branches in Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana, DRC Publishes Journal, organises symposia, facilitates short courses
Mining Education in Africa Several mining schools listed, few currently active, no known accreditation: Ghana Ghana School of Mines Botswana University of Botswana, new? BIUST - intention Egypt Assiut, Cairo University Zambia University of Zambia School of Mines Zimbabwe University of Zimbabwe in trouble DRC - developing Nigeria South Africa Washington Accord Accreditation University of Pretoria 200 under graduate students, 6 faculty University of Johannesburg Diploma University of South Africa Diploma, staff shortage University of Witwatersrand 500 under graduate students, 20 faculty, strong short course program Severe poaching activity with teaching decline in Europe, USA
Wits School of Mining Engineering Brief Overview
Wits Mining Curriculum FIRST YEAR: Chemistry I (Aux) Mathematics I Mining Graphics Engineering Skills (Mining) Physics I Mechanics Practical Training (Mining) SECOND YEAR: Applied Mathematics IIA Electrical Engineering Geology IA Geology IB Mathematics II (half-course) Computer Applications in Mining Excavation Engineering Engineering Surveying Practical Workshop Training (Mining) Special Requirement Vacation Work I (Mining) THIRD YEAR: Ore Dressing & Extractive Metallurgy Ore Body Modelling Industrial & Research Seminars I Mining Laboratories Computerised Mine Design Vacation Work II (Mining) Applied Mining Subjects, i.e. Technical Valuation, Mine Transportation, Rock Mechanics, Mine Ventilation & Climate Control, Mine Surveying, Mining A, Health, Safety & Mine Environment FOURTH YEAR: Industrial & Research Seminars II Project Report Applied Mining Subjects, i.e. Mining B (Gold), Mining C (Coal), Mining D (Massive Ore Bodies), Mining E (Open Pit and Surface), Rock Engineering Mine Management Principles, Mine Management Techniques, and Financial Valuation Mine Design Capstone Course
Total Under Graduate 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 1999 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Demographic Composition Black Male Black Female White
70 1st to 2nd Year Throughput % 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
400 Total Post Graduate 350 300 250 200 150 100 GDE, M.Eng, MSc Eng, PhD 50 0 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014
Wits Postgraduate programme MSc (Dissertation & 50:50) Areas Specializations (AoS) Coal Engineering & Development Environment & Sustainable Development Mechanised Mining Systems Mineral Economics Mineral Resource Evaluation Mineral Resource Management Mine Planning and Optimisation Mine Surveying Mine Ventilation Engineering Mining Geology Occupational Health and Safety Operations Management in Mining - DMR appointment a requirement Rock Engineering Valuation of Mineral Assets PhD (Mining Engineering)
2011 Achievements Success with attracting and retaining high-caliber staff 7 of the 20 FT academic staff have Doctorate degrees, who include 4 Full professors and 1 Associate Professor First year throughput 40% first year progression rate increased to 60% as a result of support schemes and mentoring scheme for 1st and 2nd year students Transformed programme - 36% female students and 50% black academic staff Significant research improvement Five-fold in 2010, again in 2012, School Research Productivity (2.03) now above national average of 1.97 Strong industry partnerships Several sponsors - financial and bursary support Two well-managed Centres (CSMI and CMMS) Both research active with a strong industry service approach to address the skills shortage International linkages and recognition as a Leading Mining School internationally
Brief Overview
SAIMM 1894 2012 and counting: Membership 4000 Membership Trends 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 Company Affiliate Student Retired Associate Associate Retired Member Member Life Member Retired Fellow Fellow Life Fellow Honorary Fellow Honorary Life Fellow 0
SAIMM 1894 2012 and counting: Membership Members Africa except RSA 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0
SAIMM 1894 2012 and counting: Membership Other Countries 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 UK USA Other Europe Canada Australasia South America Mideast
SAIMM 1894 2012 and counting: Membership Turnover Growth (R Million) 25 20 Turnover directly related to activity 15 10 5 0 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
SAIMM 1894 2012 and counting: Membership Relative Growth (2002 Base) 6 Activity vs Membership Growth Turnover 2012 Base 5 4 3 Activity Growth Membership Growth 2 1 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
SAIMM 1894 2012 and counting: Events Delegate-Days per Event 4000 3500 3000 2500 Total = 8 700 2000 1500 1000 500 0
SAIMM 1894 2012 and counting: Events Sponsorship per Delegate-Day 1000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Average = R450 / delegate / day
WMRI WITS MINING RESEARCH INSTITUTE An Institute to advance the sustainability of the Mining Sector and affected Societies
Mining Research Effort RSA CSIR COMRO Coalbrook disaster 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
Existing Wits activities in Humanities, and Commerce, Law and Managemen Centre for Environmental Rights School of Law, CALS Legislation and Regulations Acts: Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development, MHSA, Water, EMA Integration Assessment of cases NEDLAC NUM, Solidarity, UASA MQA P&DM, WBS, SEBS School of Social Sciences, SWOP, CAIR School of Education, EPU Management and Governance Risk management Economics Business Negotiations Evaluation and Results (CLEAR) Labour Society Continuing and Voc. Educ. and Training Women in mining Employment conditions Housing Disabilities/HIV- AIDS Sociology of HIV- AIDS Labour movements Community engagement Conflict and Governance Migration BEE and class formation Households Globalization Economic development Voc. & prof. education Articulation of curricula Labour supply and demand Access to educ. & training Secondary occupations
Existing Wits activities in Science, Health and Engineering & Built Environment Geology Mining and Safety Occupational Health & Hygiene Minerals Beneficiation Energy Environmental Economic Geology Mining Geology Mineralogy Exploration Geology Geophysics Ore deposit modelling Engineering Geology Environmental Geology ASM School of Geosciences, Africa Array GCS Mine Planning and Design Geostatistics Mining Technologies Rock mechanics Mine managmnt. ASM Ventilation and cooling Schools of Mining & Mech. Ind & Aer. Eng., CSMI, CMMS Silicosis Silica related diseases Tuberculosis and HIV Musculoskeletal disorders Respiratory diseases School of Public Health Minerals processing Comminution Hydrometallurgy Pyrometallurgy Clean Coal Technologies Waste water Corrosion and wear School of Chem. & Met. Engineering, CoE Strong Matls. Energy efficiency Deep level mining Power electronics Electric Systems Diagnostics Automation and control Systems Engineering School of Electrical & Info. Engineering. CSIR Centre for Mining Innovation MINTEK SANERI NIOH Mine Health and Safety Council EIA Pollution Rehabilitation Mine closure Water management Hydrology Environmental Management Post mining landscapes Schools of APES, Chem., Civil & Env. Engng., EEPP
Cycle of mining Geology Environmental impact assessment Exploration Investment law Energy availability Social setting Labour prospects Sustainability assessment Feasibility Politics/history Water availability Tax regime Mining Industry Unemployment Engineering design Mineral law and policy Health and safety Environmental impact Energy efficiency R & D - including testing Management Sustainability Technical Community Labour relations State relations Wars Policy Environmental impact Post-mining economic viability After Mine Closes
Wits Mining Research Institute Capacity Project Management Processes Production of final product Prototype development Standard labs Institute Centre of Excellence Laboratory testing; Demonstration models Paper Research Academic Research Concept documents; Research reports
Institute Development Plan Year Full Time Staff Co-opted Staff Graduate Students Turnover (ZAR Million) 2012 0.4 + 1 0 9 0.5 2013 3 5 12 3 2014 5 7 15 15 2015 10 10 20 25 2020 50 15 50-100 200
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