Kondwani Wesley Banda

I manage the development of commercially viable Biogas waste-to-energy project across all its life cycles, from the pre-feasibility stage to FEL 3 to meet the organisation's vision to Generate green base load electricity Produce biomethane and bio-CO2, Reduce the volume of waste disposed to a landfill and Produce Bio2Watt Agri – Registered Category 2 fertiliser and soil enhancer

• Biogas Project Management Cycles I manage include Biogas feasibility component decision tree stage: Securing feedstock and conducting feedstock studies, Assesing Revenue streams, Assessing digestate management, Developing the project structure and Identifying technology choice as well as Contracting of service providers
• The development methodology stage that I manage include: Scoping Pre-feasibility, Pre-engineering and Contracting Financial Close and Handover to the construction manager for the Construction and Commissioning phase

Development Projects: Cape Diary in Western Cape, Dube Port in KZN, Sunderland Ridge in Gauteng, and Marracuene, in Mozambique.

• With my 10 years mining and minerals experience specialising in pyrometallurgy and as the project manager in the Hatch technologies business unit that services Africa, Europe, and the Middle East (AEM), my focus was on expanding and growing the multi-million electrode column business globally, through supporting existing clients and acquiring new clients in the PGM and ferroalloys industry
• I was responsible for managing, coordinating, and administering the project during the FEL 3 and FEL 4 delivery stages of the project lifecycle, from setup, execution, monitoring and controlling to final closing out of the project
• I ensured successful implementation of product solutions for our clients related to Hatch proprietary furnace electrode technologies through general engineering, design and supply, and installation support projects
• Additional responsibilities were to grow the business practice include: Developing long-term strategic initiatives to increase Hatch’s presence on-site Preparing quarterly sales forecasts for procurement Creating and pursuing client specific proposals including product estimates and delivery timelines with assistance from a multidisciplinary team Monitoring and controlling project metrics (finances, hours, expenses, progress, etc.) Providing on-going engineering, procurement, vendor, and Client support Coordinating with the Client and Commercial team to resolve any commercial issues.

Achievements

• I executed furnace electrode column upgrades portfolio with 3 projects worth R142 million in total
• I successfully delivered a FEL 4 design and supply projects successfully for a major platinum producer as follows: Project 1 value of R50 million, delivered within scope, schedule and a cost saving/underrun of R7 million Project 2 value of R35 million, delivered within scope, schedule and a cost saving/underrun of R2 million Project 3 value of R57 million, I inherited it towards end of the project
• I executed projects delivering furnace equipment spares with across 7 smelting clients within the PGM and ferroalloys industry and was able to bring stability, structure and double the gross revenue to a value of R53 million in 2023

I executed operational business improvement projects that contributed to the strategic and business improvement directives of organisation in the mining and minerals industry

• This was done through applying technical expertise, performance coaching and outstanding client service
• I was on a project with one of SA’s largest platinum producing mining companies implementing the front-line leadership development program across all their mining sites

Responsibilities

• Implementing operational improvement interventions
• Developing front-line leaders through performance coaching
• Organisational culture and professional business conduct implementation and alignment
• Creating organisational awareness and alignment
• Ensuring change management and change adaptability takes place throughout the project
• Stakeholder Management Team
• Orientation and People Management

September 2021 - December 2021

• Execution of phase 1 operational excellence project at Anglo American Platinum mine in Amandebult
• Coaching done on the surface (the mine overseer caucus room) and underground
• Implementation of the client's organisation model, cultural change, and OIM's 4 operational levers, i.e., structured team meetings (STM), structured management approach (SMA), Visual Management Boards (VMBs) and Team Value Charter (TVC)
• Frontline leaders I took through the supervisory development program (SDP) include thirteen shift supervisors and one mine overseer

March 2022- June 2022

• Execution of phase 2 of the operational excellence project at Anglo American Platinum mine in Amandebult, focused on the miners
• Coaching done fully underground a shaft mine
• Implementation of the client's organisation model, cultural change, and OIM's 4 operational levers
• Frontline leaders I am taking through the supervisory development program (SDP) include 19 miners

• I worked in a research and development environment which involved managing and executing state- and commercially funded research
• The projects were executed from a laboratory- to pilot (demonstration) scale, which involved working shifts and working with a multidisciplinary team
• The research was focused on the extraction of minerals using minerals processing and pyro-metallurgical processes
• In addition, my role required me to operate as a consultant for commercial clients
• Responsibilities Coordination and organising resources to ensure timely and cost-effective execution and completion of assigned projects including planning and adjusting of manpower levels as appropriate, cash, cost, and billing management in line with company procedures
• Monitoring and reporting on research project progress, timing, and budget to senior management
• Overseeing installation, commissioning, and testing metallurgical processing equipment on laboratory- and pilot (demonstration) scale
• Develop and maintain viable relationships with customers, consultants, subcontractors, and research grant bodies
• Conducting risk assessments, which include hazard and operability (HAZOP) studies through risk management processes
• Writing, development and preparation of detailed funding proposals and reports for the state- and commercial funded projects Identification of continuous improvement opportunities and novel process opportunities Process modelling using FactSage Using Microsoft office tools to keep track of people and project progress
• Mentoring, developing, and training graduates and junior engineers

Achievements

• I have secured over R1 million commercial funding and over R6 million state grant funding for R&D projects in the mining and mineral sector across different commodities
• The following skills have been crucial in allowing me to successfully manage and execute projects effectively, namely: Project management Plant Commissioning Risk management and mitigation Strong decision making Advanced technical report writing Excellent leadership Service-focus

• I worked as an intern and received graduate training
• I was involved in laboratory-scale and pilot-scale research project execution under a project leader
• Executing, monitoring, and reporting on research project progress to the project leader
• Operation of a DC arc furnace (100kVA to 3.2 MVA), induction furnaces, rotary kiln, and other pyrometallurgy equipment for commercial processing activities

• I worked as a quality assurance technician for a corrugator and box manufacturing company
• I had to ensure quality was maintained on the final products and minimize product returns as they had cost implications for the company
• Responsibilities Quality assurance and data capturing Housekeeping and maintenance of the corrugator Supervise a team of back-end product line

• I worked as an intern on a gold production plant, was involved in a laboratory-scale research project and reported to the senior metallurgist
• I worked on an optimization project which focused on improving the electro-winning circuit recovery
• Executing, monitoring, and reporting on research project progress to the senior metallurgist