Veneil Sewnarain

A highly accomplished Chemical and Process Engineering professional with 11+ years of progressive experience spanning process design, plant management, and capital project delivery. Currently engaged as an independent Project Engineer consultant to AECI, managing end-to-end delivery of a capital improvement project at an explosives manufacturing facility in Botswana — covering scope, cost, schedule, risk, HAZOP close-outs, and commissioning planning within a formal stage-gate governance framework. Prior to consulting, deliberately transitioned into business ownership (co-founded Car Care Clinic, Alberton) to develop commercial acumen and entrepreneurial capability.

Combining deep technical expertise with growing project management credentials and business ownership experience.

Project Engineer (Capital Improvement Project — Explosives Manufacturing) at AECI (2026-03 – Present)

Engaged as an independent consultant providing project engineering and project management services on a capital improvement project at an active explosives manufacturing facility in Botswana. Responsible for end-to-end project delivery across scope, cost, schedule, risk, and quality in line with AECI's capital project governance framework.

• Managing multi-disciplinary engineering teams across civil, mechanical, electrical, and process disciplines.
• Coordinating procurement and construction activities in a live plant environment with strict safety protocols.
• Driving HAZOP close-outs and supporting commissioning readiness planning.
• Executing project delivery in accordance with formal stage-gate methodology and internal governance requirements.

Co-Owner & Business Development Lead at Car Care Clinic (2025-07 – Present)

Co-founded and established a full-service automotive care centre. Leveraged engineering problem-solving and operational management skills to build business processes from the ground up, with responsibility for social media marketing, customer acquisition, and operational oversight.

• Built and managed social media marketing strategy across platforms to drive brand awareness and customer traffic.
• Developed operational procedures and supplier relationships to ensure service quality and efficiency.

Site Chemical Engineer at ELEMENT SIX (2024-03 – 2025-06)

• Managed all chemical and environmental risk across the site including maintaining environmental licenses.
• Developed comprehensive site water balance and P&ID documentation for multiple process units.
• Designed and implemented waste-to-product recovery processes, generating new revenue streams.
• Provided technical support across Surface Treatment Plants and led site-wide process improvement initiatives.

Chemical Engineer / Plant Manager at ELEMENT SIX (2022-02 – 2024-02)

• Managed a hazardous chemical facility with 43 employees (6 direct, 37 indirect reports) achieving zero safety incidents.
• Led Manufacturing Execution System implementation for product traceability across the supply chain.
• Managed departmental budgeting and ensured customer demands were met as the final link in the supply chain.
• Provided technical support to neighbouring plants and assisted R&D in scaling concepts from lab to operational scale.

Senior Process Engineer (Technology Manager) at MONDI RICHARDS BAY (2021-02 – 2022-01)

• Supervised and mentored 2 Junior Process Engineers, overseeing technical development and output quality.
• Implemented Best Available Technology (BAT) standards for the Chemical/Recausticizing plant.
• Managed plant-wide CAPEX reviews, risk analysis, and presentations to the Steering Committee.
• Zero incidents during night-shift management of plant shutdowns; co-developed the Mill-wide Risk Register.

Project Process Engineer at MONDI RICHARDS BAY (2017-11 – 2021-01)

• Led FEED development for CAPEX projects across Power, Chemical, Fibreline, and Paper Machine operations ($10K–$20M).
• Developed hydraulic model of the black liquor system, resolving chronic pump failures through systematic engineering analysis.
• Developed P&IDs, control philosophies, and conducted HAZOPs with multi-disciplinary stakeholder teams.
• Verified construction against engineering drawings and commissioned new processes end-to-end.

Junior Process Engineer at MPACT FELIXTON (2016-01 – 2017-10)

• Primary engineer on $74M paper machine rebuild — developed piping reuse strategy and commissioning plan.
• Optimised paper machine hood system for measurable energy savings.
• Sized, installed, and commissioned an effluent belt press; verified and updated P&IDs for the plant.

Process Engineer-in-Training at MPACT FELIXTON (2014-01 – 2015-12)

• Designed, developed, and commissioned a Demineralisation Plant upgrade with full control philosophy automation.
• Conducted feasibility study for Variable Speed Drive implementation across water systems.
• Developed P&IDs and technical tender comparisons for pulp mill upgrade.

Master of Science in Chemical Engineering – University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban (2019)

BSc. (Hons) in Chemical Engineering – University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban (2011)

National Senior Certificate in Matric – Tongaat Secondary School, Tongaat (2006)