Mr. Blessing Bongani Msweli

Senior Shift Millwright with extensive experience in plant maintenance, equipment repair, and supervision. Skilled in mechanical and electrical systems maintenance, breakdown response, and team management. Currently working at Richards Bay Minerals – Rio Tinto since July 2018.

Senior Shift Millwright - Richards Bay Minerals – Rio Tinto - Richards Bay, South Africa

(2018-07)

Richards Bay Minerals is the branch for Rio Tinto. It is like open cast mine whereby it gets raw sand from / along sea shore then starts processing it to extract Zircon and Rutile minerals.

• Involved in taking care of the plant equipment at the processing plant (Mineral Separation Plant – MSP), in terms of attending breakdowns, from the feed side through – out to the final product, this involves conveyors, vibrating screens, linear screens, whims, pumps and magnet separators
• Assisting in plant maintenance i.e overhauling pumps, changing motors, etc
• Organising spares and report writing
• Coaching the assistants and the apprentices

Senior Millwright - Dense Media Separation Powders – South 32 - Meyerton – Vereeniging / Johannesburg, South Africa

(2017-08 - 2018-06)

• Overhead cranes maintenance like checking functioning of the crane components such as the winches, gearbox drives as well as the tracks
• Breakdowns attending on cranes
• Replacing crane lifting ropes
• Getting involved in the crushing plant whereby were crushing the slag left in the pots after granulating to recycle, so breakdowns and maintenance becomes my part and even if there is something broken, I have to get permit, isolate, de-isolate to test then hand it back to operations

Plant Supervisor - Highlands African Mining Company - Marrupino Tantalite Project - Mozambique

(2015-06 - 2017-04)

Company that mines and processes tantalum for a tantalite and morganite picking. Was appointed as the Plant Supervisor in Engineering Department with responsibility for 30 people.

• Was given the responsibility to be the Plant Supervisor in Engineering Department and had 30 people that I was supervising
• Act as the Head of Department in Engineering when my manager is gone for R n R
• Managing engineering maintenance for fixed plant including crushers, conveyors, shaking tables, pumps and screens
• Got involved in the construction of the crusher plant for crushing stones to retract mineral tantalite
• Effective management of team and resources
• Managing the budget in terms of managing overtime as well as the unnecessary expenditure, whatever has been broken, was fixed onsite instead of sending it away for repairs unless it was measure
• Conducting root cause analysis
• Fixing and installing the equipment such as gearboxes for conveyor belts, crushers (rollers and jaw crushers), screens, shaking tables and conveyor maintenance
• Installation of Variable Speed Drives (VSD – Weg)
• Substations maintenance as well as the transformers
• Breakdowns attending throughout the plant
• Doing camp maintenance i.e plumbing, electrical, involved in building and camp improvement

Millwright Technician - Smith's Manufacturing Company - South Africa

(2015-05 - 2015-06)

Smith's Manufacturing Company in South Africa manufactures vehicle parts as it has different divisions. Was appointed to look after the CNC machines they are using as the Millwright Technician.

• Fixing and maintaining the machines
• Installing the new machines
• Had a workshop to re-do in terms of wiring
• Breakdowns attending

Millwright Technician - African Minerals Limited – Tonkolili Project - Sierra Leone – West Africa

(2013-04 - 2015-03)

African-Minerals Ltd (Tonkolili Project) receives and exports iron-ore (transfer plant) with the same set up and operation as RBCT. Served under maintenance for couple of months then was posted to do breakdowns.

• Teaching the operators to operate effectively to minimise unnecessary stoppages and call-outs
• Assisting other sections in breakdowns e.g, boilermakers / welders; electricians; belting and riggers
• Fault –finding through SCADA by reading the I/O's

Senior Shift Millwright - Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) - Richards Bay, South Africa

(2005-01 - 2013-03)

• Working as the Senior Shift Millwright (First Line Caller) attending the breakdowns from the tipplers, conveyors, stacker – reclaimers, sampling plants to the shiploaders to keep plant running safe within the short time to meet the target that we set for us to maximise the production that renders the good service to our customers
• Teaching the operators as well how to operate the machines effectively to minimise unnecessary stoppages and call-outs

Millwright - Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) - Richards Bay, South Africa

(2002-01 - 2004-12)

Appointed as the Millwright in the maintenance section with Richards Bay Coal Terminal.

Millwright (In-service training) - Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) - Richards Bay, South Africa

(2001-01 - 2001-12)

Started serving the in-service training in the same company (RBCT) as a Millwright after qualifying in 2001 in Newcastle Trade Test Centre.

Electrician (Apprenticeship) - Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) - Richards Bay, South Africa

(1997-01 - 1999-12)

Served an apprenticeship with Richards Bay Coal Terminal in Electrical whereby in 1999 qualified as an Electrician in Olifantsfontein.

Air-condition and Refrigeration Technician Apprentice - ImprovAir - South Africa

(1995-04 - 1996-12)

Served an apprenticeship with Improvair as the Air-condition and Refrigeration Technician in both domestic and industrial.

• Installations of air-conditioners
• Cooling towers maintenance and breakdowns

Assistant - Alrich Electrical Contractor - South Africa

(1995-01 - 1995-03)

Worked for Alrich Electrical contractor as an assistant in both domestic and industrial.

• Installation, maintenance and breakdowns

N6 National Diploma - Electrical Engineering - Umfolozi College (RichTek) (1994-12)

Matriculation - Eqakwini High (1990-12)