Tabotabo Talane
Middlemount
Summary
Results-driven drill and blast engineer with over 7 years of experience in open pit hard rock and open cast coal mining, currently contributing to the success of Capcoal Opencut Mine in Queensland, Australia. The proven expertise in stakeholder management ensures the delivery of robust operational schedules while fostering collaboration across teams. Strong background in process management and mapping, driving targeted continuous improvement initiatives to enhance overall efficiency and productivity. Academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering (obtained with distinction) and a Master of Science in Systems Engineering, both from Wits University.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Mining Engineer: Drill and Blast
Anglo American Steelmaking Coal
06.2023 - 08.2025
- Monitoring of drilling and blasting activities with aim to achieve desired results with respect to Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) and operational efficiency.
- Designing of blasts and drill patterns consistent with operational standards.
- Short-term planning and scheduling (3 months horizon) of drill and blast activities, feeding into MOP. This includes working with the finance team to produce explosive usage and cost forecast.
- Compiling and analysing drill and blast reconciliation reports with respect to health and safety, accuracies (compliance to design), blast results, powder factors and overall explosive usage with aim for continuous improvement. This also assist with future schedule inputs and feed into Mid-term plans and budget.
- Conducting root cause analysis investigations where undesirable blasting results are encountered, engaging with all relevant stakeholders to come up with executable interventions.
- Working with other planning engineers to manage operational interactions and secure quality blasted inventory.
- Implemented continuous improvement initiatives to enhance overall mine performance and achieve production targets consistently. Most notable being drilling and explosives cost saving by optimizing powder factors based on lithology.
Mining Technician: Drill and Blast
Kumba Iron Ore
06.2021 - 05.2023
- Responsible for quality control of drill and blast activities, leveraging on emerging technologies to deliver smarter solutions.
- Responsible for short-term drill and blast projects, including improving iron ore lump to fine ratio and reduction in misfires due to downline cut-offs. Lump to fine ratio improved from 59% to 63%, earning the organisation additional $3.9 million annual revenue (from the $15/t lump premium). The same project also resulted in $1 million in cost savings.
- Organised and chaired drill and blast reconciliation meetings, ensuring compliance to design and delivery of operational objectives.
- Acted as a senior drill and blast engineer for 7 months, leading and training two junior mining engineers.
Graduate Mining Engineer
Anglo American
02.2018 - 06.2021
- Trained 1.5 years at underground platinum mine and 2 years at open pit iron ore mine.
- Open pit iron ore: In charge of new drill and blast technologies utilisation and process improvement initiatives. Helping operations teams to adopt introduced technologies effectively. Notably improved uptake of BlastLogic (from 17% to 76%) and autonomous drilling system (from 34% to 80%).
- Underground platinum: Appointed as Miner leading 3 underground crews and responsible for the transportation and security of explosives in my work area. Responsible for ensuring healthy and safe working conditions for the underground crews.
- Acted as an underground Shift Supervisor, leading two miners and responsible for daily planning and resourcing of underground production activities.
- Skills acquired: leadership and continuous improvement.
Education
Master of Science - Systems Engineering
University of The Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa12.2024
Bachelor of Science - Mining Engineering
University of The Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa01.2018
Skills
- Health and safety: Health and safety approach towards designing monitoring drill and blast activities
- Production scheduling and planning: Creating short-term drill and blast plans and schedules
- Cost estimating: Explosive usage forecast, with associated costs
- Technical reporting: Continuous improvement and RCA reports
- Communication and interpersonal skills: Continuous engagement with operational teams to ensure executable plans and improved compliance to plan Presentation of weekly schedules at planning meetings
- Process improvement: Came up with process improvement flowchart and tracker, improving standardisation of newly proven methods
Accomplishments
- Graduated mining engineering degree top of the class, awarded best mining graduate (2017).
- While at Kumba Iron Ore, lead a project that improved iron ore lump to fine ratio from 59% to 63%, earning the business premium of $15/t in revenues.
- Part of a team that improved blast results, leading to an aggregate of $1 million in savings, contributed by coming up with robust reconciliation process that enabled targeted process improvement efforts.
- Led a project to improved BlastLogic (new blasting technology) utilisation, increasing utilisation from 17% to 76%.
- Capcoal Mine won the golden shovel, presented to the most productive shovel in the group. My contribution being to come up with operational strategies to ensure our shovel had continuous supply of blasted inventory, resulting in reduced relocation and stoppages.
- Successfully implemented a 6 weeks robust drill and blast schedule, helping shine light on risk and opportunities well in advance.
Certification
- Maptek (2019): BlastLogic (senior drill and blast engineer level).
- Blast Management International (2022): Design blasts course
- Blast Management International (2023): Surface shotfirer course
- ORICA (2024): Safe and efficient blasting course
Timeline
Mining Engineer: Drill and Blast
Anglo American Steelmaking Coal
06.2023 - 08.2025
Mining Technician: Drill and Blast
Kumba Iron Ore
06.2021 - 05.2023
Graduate Mining Engineer
Anglo American
02.2018 - 06.2021
Master of Science - Systems Engineering
University of The Witwatersrand
Bachelor of Science - Mining Engineering
University of The Witwatersrand
Attained Qualifications
- University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa (2017): Bachelor of science in Mining engineering (With a distinction)
- University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa (2024): Master of Science in Systems Engineering
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