Mining Technician (Mine Planning Practitioner)

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Mining Technician (Mine Planning Practitioner). A Mine Planning Practitioner develops and schedules the exploitation of a mineral body to convert the mineral resource into mineral reserves for the safe and profitable extraction of the minerals in line with given organisational strategies. A qualified learner will be able to: • Produce short and medium term Mineral Extraction layouts and production schedules including resource and equipment requirements for the mining of various mining commodities. • Prepare and collate information to determine the risks associated with the execution of the short and medium term mining plans.

This curriculum is targeted for Mine Planning Practitioners. The role of the Planning Practitioner is an ever-changing one. Most mines fill this position using production staff or staff from other technical services disciplines. The role is becoming ever more specialised and the various associations have long ago identified the need for a national qualification that will assist with the professionalisation of this role. The need for this qualification was raised by industry as there is currently no recognised national standard for this occupation. The following was considered: • South Africa is experiencing a shortage of mining engineers and mine planning staff. This has been the case for many years and traditionally this vacuum was filled by placing mining production people with experience into these roles. • Currently gold and platinum companies alone identified the need for 166 mine planners. The expectation is a grand total of 246. If they are released on a 15% per annum basis, this means 37 per annum. New entrants and refreshers, will make this 45 per annum. • The problem with that is that, in most cases these individuals do not have the expertise and knowledge to execute the work, they might have the production experience but they lack the planning and computer skills required to execute the requirements of the job with the result that work is then passed on to higher levels of management. If people with the computer and planning abilities are found; they lack the production experience and know-how. The result of all of this is that it takes a long time to develop people on the job and if people leave the company the replacement time is unacceptably high. • This problem is now being exacerbated by the fact that the nature of mining is changing. The continued move to mechanisation increases the need for effective short, medium and long term planning. The industry now needs a well-structured qualification at this level to fast track mine employees and people new to the industry into positions where they can execute the fundamental planning activities associated with short and medium term planning and then engage in higher education programmes to fill the long term planning positions. The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM) set up a steering group to work on training and development processes for this level of employee. The results of the work of that steering group are reflected in this qualification. This group was used as the community of expert practice and they are continually referred back to their industry constituencies to verify and validate the proposed contents. All mines require planning practitioners that must ensure that the mine planning documents and processes comply with the relevant legal requirements; traditionally this work was performed by production staff. This qualification will assist in creating a new career path for new entrants to the industry. Effective mine planning impacts on the implementation of social and labour plans and the effective implementation of this qualification will lead to a more productive use of mine resources. In the long term it will contribute to the sustainability of the mining industry. It is an entry occupation to a career in mine planning. This gives promotional opportunities to current mine employees and it provides a career path for new entrants into the industry. Without this qualification it is very difficult to bring new industry entrants into the planning function. It opens up opportunities for school leavers that did not exist previously. This qualification will assist in the formalising of the requirements for this very important occupation. There will be ample opportunity for RPL for mine employees and this will allow new industry entrants to be fast tracked to a productive career.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): RPL for access to the external integrated summative assessment: Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result or certifying a work experience record. RPL for access to the qualification: Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements. Entry Requirements: • At NQF 3 with Mathematical Literacy.

• Produce short and medium term Mineral Extraction Layouts and production schedules manually and using electronic planning tools in accordance with a range of mine planning standards.
• Prepare and collate information to determine the risks associated with the execution of the short and medium term mining plans.