Biih MAKGATE

I am an experienced Geotechnical Practitioner with underground experience in massive block cave mining & currently working for Palabora Mining Company as a Rock Engineer Specialist. I am a Practical Geotechnical practitioner with interest in design and modelling for safety and profitability of mining business. I have facilitated multiple initiatives of mitigating seismicity impact on mining infrastructure and safety of personnel. I have overseen the successful support design and development of large underground crusher chambers and workshops, and management of cave induced seismicity in deep block cave mining environments. I have extensive knowledge on shotcrete design and quality control, including the efficiency of mine shotcrete process from batching plant to placement site. I have co-authored a technical journal paper titled “Assessing the role of stress distribution on mine layout design in Block Caving Mine” presented at AFriROCK2025 conference held at Suncity July 2025.

• ASSOCIATE Member – South African National Institute of Rock Engineering (SANIRE)
• PROTO BRIGADE – MINES RESCUE SERVICES OF SOUTH AFRICA (MRS)