Pogiso Diobe

To grow and develop both personally and professionally as an operations metallurgical manager/business leader at Senior Management level to executive level in order to contribute significantly to the purpose and ambition of the organization I am working for, in terms of health and safety, problem solving, production and technical expertise, as well as sharing knowledge that I have acquired in the mining industry through the journey of my career with colleagues and mentoring of young metallurgical engineers.. I also don’t mind relocating.

Technical Sales Engineer at Frusina Holdings Limited (2024-01 – Present)

Mineral Processing Reagents Supplier

• Sales and business development by researching and identifying potential customers in the mineral processing sector.
• Product promotion by detailed defining each chemical in our product basket used in mineral extraction processes (Flotation and thickening and filtration aids).
• Sales presentations to customers, discussing technical benefits and negotiating pricing and terms.
• Providing technical support to the client to understand the products and advice the client on the best chemicals/ reagent suit for their needs.
• On-site support by visiting customer’s site to observe their operations and provide recommendation on a chemical’s utilisation or parameters adjustments.
• Establishing and maintaining strong, long-term relationships with key customers in mineral processing industry.
• Ensure customer needs are met and resolving any product or service-related issues that arise.
• Keeping up with industry trends, competitors’ offerings and new technologies in mineral processing and chemicals.
• Gathering feedback from customers to understand the performance of our products and other competitor’s products to identify areas for improvement or a new product development.
• Ensure that the environmental and safety standards that can impact the chemical use in mineral processing are met.
• Preparing technical proposals, test work/ plant trial and sales reports to support the sales process.
• Ensuring timely delivery of chemical products to clients.
• Managing inventory to ensure that the products are available when needed.
• Design and costing of metallurgical test work and plant trials programmes in liaison with clients.
• Evaluation of test work, pilot plant and plant trial results and interpretation.
• Analysing the quality and dosing of reagents, as well as performing recovery calculations.
• Running sampling campaigns for projects and improvement purposes.
• Concentrator Plant commissioning and optimization (Milling, Flotation, Thickeners, and filtration)
• Managing and keeping safety working file up to date.

Process Metallurgist at Pilanesberg Platinum Mine (Sedibelo Platinum Resources) (2014-01 – 2023-11)

Reason for living: Retrenched

• Managing and assuming responsibility for the day to day running of the concentrator plant, optimising the concentration process to ensure the plant is running at peak efficiency.
• Design and costing of metallurgical test work and plant trials programmes in liaison with Process Superintendent, process operations manager and technical manager.
• Evaluation of results and interpretation.
• Management, training and direction of both Students, Metallurgist and Plant Operators in quality, test work methodology, safety and time management and enhance productivity and efficiency for Metallurgical laboratory activities and process operations.
• Perform any other reasonable tasks as assigned by line management.
• Analysing the quality and dosing of reagents - PGM flotation, as well as performing recovery calculations.
• Managing and maintaining daily, weekly, and monthly reporting procedures for production, metal recovery, and plant cost efficiencies.
• Identify and implement approved cost savings on new and existing projects for continuous improvement.
• Running sampling campaigns for projects and improvement purposes.
• Presenting and writing technical reports to management.
• Chairing production meetings with other departments in an absent of both process superintendent and operations manager.
• Planned maintenance tracking and equipment inspections during shutdowns.
• Responsible and adhere to process parameters for Crushing, Dense Medium Separation, Milling and classification, Flotation, Chrome Plant, Thickeners, Larox filtration.
• Managing dispatching of PGM and Chrome concentrate.
• Conduct benchmarking and remain current to new technologies relevant to the concentrator.
• Plant commissioning and optimization (Chrome plant, Tail scavenger plant, XRF sorter plant – Rados technology and Pilot plant).
• PPM Kell technology project (New hydrometallurgy technology).
• Strategic projects for metallurgy best practices.
• Processing of production figures and metal accounting.
• Managing Metallurgy department safety working file to ensure compliance with health and safety as well as operating standard and procedures.
• Holding 2.9.2 legal appointment and relieving on a plant-process superintendent (2.6.1 legal appointment)

Metallurgist at Pilanesberg Platinum Mine (Sedibelo Platinum Resources) (2013-01 – 2014-01)

• Responsible for metallurgical test work programmes in liaison with Process Superintendent, process operations manager and technical manager.
• Evaluation of results and interpretation.
• Metallurgical laboratory activities daily activities.
• Training and direction of both metallurgical Laboratory Assistants and Plant Operators in quality, test work methodology, safety and time management and enhance productivity and efficiency.
• Analysing the quality and dosing of reagents - PGM flotation, as well as performing recovery calculations.
• Compiling daily, weekly, and monthly production and technical and plant cost efficiencies reports.
• Processing of production figures.
• Presenting and technical reports writing to management.
• Reagents stock taking and reconciling.
• Running sampling campaigns for projects and improvement purposes.
• Participating in management meetings
• Equipment inspections during shutdowns.
• Conduct benchmarking and remain current to new technologies relevant to the concentrator.
• Commissioning and plant trials (working Shifts)
• Updating the departmental Legal working file.
• Perform any other reasonable tasks as assigned by line management.
• Relieving as a plant-process metallurgist.

Plant Leader at Northam Platinum Ltd (2011-09 – 2013-01)

Reason for living: Resigned

• Responsible for plant operation and performance in sections such as milling, flotation, dispatch, and back fill as well as sampling evaluation in metallurgical laboratory and ensuring safety for the people and equipment’s protection.
• Ensuring good plant performance and accountable for production health and safety personnel on the area of my responsibility.
• Incidents reporting, and authorizing work permits and submitting works orders for faulty equipment’s to be repaired in time to minimize down time, risks and loss of production.
• Daily and monthly inspection of the plant in the sections of my responsibility and making sure safety comes first and gets priority over any other matter.
• Mill re-lining and perform other metallurgical related duties as required.
• Supervising and carrying out the P.T. O to plant operators.
• Updating the departmental Legal working file.
• Good housekeeping.
• Relieving 2.9.2 on a shift supervisor position.

Metallurgist trainee (P1 & P2) at Anglo American Platinum (2008-02 – 2009-01)

Reason for leaving: Fixed term contract.

• Plant production data capturing for monitoring the plant performance (filter Plant, flash drier and furnace).
• Furnace rebuilding and all stages commissioning activities.
• Slag granulation optimization
• Matte preparation for further processing.
• Managing trainee’s metallurgist shift roaster.
• Tap hole management, furnace sounding (molten metal level) management, electrode management, furnace binding system, monitoring furnace walls stability and furnace cooling system, slag granulation optimization and furnace mass balance.
• Supervising Metallurgical lab
• Assisting with daily production reports.
• Compiling technical and production reports and power point presentation.
• Authorizing work orders for service and repair of faulty equipment that affects the plant’s performance.
• Involved in plant optimization project carried out by metallurgists, commissioning, and test works.
• Performing on-the-job training in new operating procedures and P.T.Os to plant operators.
• Involved in calibration of instrumentation devices around the plant.
• Working shifts with process teams.
• Assisting with updating the departmental Legal working file.
• Performed other metallurgical related duties as required.
• Reporting to senior metallurgist, plant superintendent and production manager.
• Relieving on a shift supervisor position.

Metallurgy vacation student (exposure training) at Anglo American Platinum (2006-12 – 2007-01)

Reason for leaving: Fixed term contract. The CV also lists a second period: December 2007–January 2008.

• Resuming as an acting foreman for sampling evaluation for all the plants at union section (Mortimer Concentrator, Ivan Concentrator and Mortimer Smelter)
• Ensuring that sampling is done according to procedure, plant sampling equipment’s management to ensure good metal accounting and quality control.
• Authorizing work permits and creating work orders for service and repair for sampling equipment and cutters.
• Daily and monthly inspection to ensure effective operations.
• Plant manual sampling techniques, metallurgical laboratory work
• Material handling for crushing, screening, storing, and calculated course and fine ratio blending for milling purposes. Plant Inspection during maintenance shutdowns and performed other metallurgical related duties as required.
• Reporting to process metallurgist.

Senior Certificate – Manamakgotha High (2002)

National Diploma in Chemical Engineering – University of Johannesburg (2009)

B-Tech degree in Chemical Engineering – University of Johannesburg (2010)

Graduate Management Development Program (MDP) – Stellenbosch Graduate Management Development Institute (2022)