Louis Jacobs
Process Engineer
Johannesburg
Summary
Experienced with process optimization, consistently identifying and implementing improvements that enhance productivity and efficiency. Utilizes advanced engineering methodologies to streamline operations and reduce waste. Strong understanding of project management principles and cross-functional team leadership.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
8
8
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Senior Process Engineer
Consulmet
01.2024 - Current
- Application of process design principles to provide appropriate designed processes to satisfy client requirements.
Group Head: Metallurgy
Petra Diamonds
01.2021 - 01.2024
- Responsible for developing and implementing a metallurgical strategy for the metallurgical discipline at Petra Diamonds, which included Development of metallurgical talent, Diamond Value Management, implementation of Global industry for Tailings Management, process assurance, continuous improvement initiatives and identification of long- term capital requirements.
Business Improvement Manager
Cullinan Diamond Mine
01.2019 - 01.2021
- Responsible for developing and implementing a business improvement project on mine with the aim of saving $300m free cash in 3 years.
- Working closely with a consultancy company and establishing a business improvement department on mine.
- The main aim of this project was to improve production at reduced unit cost.
Acting - Assistant General Manager
Cullinan Diamond Mine
01.2018 - 01.2019
- Responsible for both underground and surface operations Total head count with contractor approx. 1000 employees and contractors.
- All production, planning, execution, safety and project activities in these areas.
- This included the completion of the underground c-cut project and Mill plant projects.
Surface manager
Cullinan Diamond Mine
01.2011 - 01.2017
- Managing all surface activities which include surface mining, main treatment plant and final diamond recovery processes and all auxiliary services such as water provision and sewerage treatment.
- Formed part of the team that designed the Mill Plant, including a Bourevestnik x-ray plant & HPGR crushers.
- Acting as the client representative for the 'Mill Plant' Project during the commissioning phase.
Production Superintendent
Cullinan Diamond Mine
01.2007 - 01.2011
- Responsibilities included the management of the main treatment plant with a personnel complement of approx. 650 employees.
- Designing and commissioning a new Tailings treatment plant.
- Overseeing tailings treatment plant project and establishing a surface mining department.
- The rest of the responsibilities were very much the same as at E-Bay.
Plant Manager
NAMDEB - Elizabeth Bay Mine
01.2001 - 01.2007
- The main responsibilities of this position in a very remote part of Namibia included the following: Development of objectives, targets and action plans for the treatment department, implementation of systems and processes to measure the overall performance of the department.
- Accountable for achieving production targets.
- Development of service provider performance criteria and measurement thereof.
- Development and building of an effective production team by jointly developing long term strategies, initiatives and goals to meet Life-of-Mine plans, assurance that Metallurgical, Engineering, Safety & security standards were maintained, implemented actions as stipulated in the EMP by developing objectives and initiatives to minimize environmental impacts.
- Provided metallurgical guidance to other operations in the northern areas of NAMDEB which includes the sampling plant and the contractor treatment facility, accountable for a competent Treatment workforce by coordinating staff training and development, facilitated innovation with the aim of continuous process improvements, managing contractor activities & services (Including the maintenance contract of the surface mining fleet).
- Acted as the client representative during commissioning of the new E-Bay liberation plant and recovery.
Plant Supt (Production)
De Beers - Finsch
01.2000 - 01.2001
- In the position I was involved in more senior management decisions and gained an appreciation for the complete diamond winning business.
- I became more involved in my strategic business planning activities.
- The main responsibility of this position was to manage the production pipeline from the point where mining delivered material to the plant to the point of final diamond export.
Assistant Plant Supt (Production)
De Beers - Finsch
01.1999 - 01.2000
- The responsibilities of this position included management of all production activities of the main treatment plant running at a headfeed rate of 950 tph, optimizing consumption of all consumables, building & reclaiming of surface stockpiles and previous treated tailings dumps.
- I was closely involved in the implementation of the 'Balanced Score Card' as a tool to implement the Mine’s strategy.
- My sub-ordinates included the Production Foreman, System Controller, Senior Process controllers, System metallurgist and Productions Metallurgist.
Assistant Plant Supt (Recovery)
De Beers - Finsch Mine
01.1998 - 01.1999
- As part of my development plan, I was transferred back to Finsch mine where I was given the unique opportunity to manage the Recovery plant which I commissioned a couple of years before.
- My main responsibilities were managing the engineering and metallurgical disciplines in the 'Recovery and sorthouse section' ensuring optimum diamond recovery from DMS concentrate, building a competent team and ensuring that metallurgical, engineering and safety standards were maintained and continually improved.
- Interpretation of the diamond size frequency distributions graphs was done daily and reasons for deviations recorded and addressed.
Mineral processing Engineer
De Beers - Koffiefontein Mine
01.1997 - 01.1998
- My main responsibility during the time at Koffiefontein mine was to conduct a detailed analysis of the optimum cut-off sizes at Koffiefontein mine to maximize large stone recoveries and optimize liberation of the smaller stone sizes with the overall objective of improving revenue per ton treated.
- The success of the liberation project was dependant on a close working relationship between me and members from the Minred (De Beers Mineral resource department) who did the statistical 'granulometric' analysis before compiling a report with the recommendations.
- I was also responsible for the conceptual design of a bulk sampling facility to re-treat the Tailings Dumps of the then closed Jagersfontein Mine.
Senior Plant Metallurgist
De Beers - Finsch Mine
01.1996 - 01.1997
- During this period, I was responsible for the commissioning of the 'Finsch Final Recovery upgrade' project and was a member of the project management team.
- My main responsibilities included drafting of project execution & commissioning plan and commissioning of the process.
- Specific career developments during this time included the development of 'functional specifications' from where the process control software was developed, Quantifying x-ray machine recovery efficiencies in collaboration with Debtech/Debex.
- To assist with the accuracy of record keeping of the diamond data, I developed of a 'sorthouse automated diamond accounting system' (SADAS) which was subsequently accepted as group standard in De Beers.
Plant Metallurgist
De Beers - Finsch Mine
01.1995 - 01.1996
- In the capacity of project metallurgist, I was involved in various metallurgical and productivity improvement projects.
- The most significant experience obtained during this period was in the 'Final Recovery Upgrade Project' which included Magnetic removal, replacing a grease recovery plant with x-ray technology.
- My responsibilities included the development of the PFD’s, equipment sizing & selection, mass balance calculations and P&ID’s.
Learner diplomat
De Beers - Finsch Mine
01.1991 - 01.1994
- Company Overview: The focus of this training program was to gain practical appreciation of the diamond winning process and related business systems.
- The focus of this training program was to gain practical appreciation of the diamond winning process and related business systems.
- I was also given the opportunity to develop a metallurgical accounting system, which assisted me with understanding the metallurgical accounting pipeline.
- As part of my experiential training period I completed various small production related projects, this included commissioning of 8 DMS modules as a final year project.
- The focus of this training program was to gain practical appreciation of the diamond winning process and related business systems.
Education
Grade 12 certificate -
Rustenburg High School
01.1982 - 01.1987
National Higher Diploma - Extractive Metallurgy
Vaal Triangle Technicon
01.1991 - 01.1994
Coursework
- Instrumentation for Metallurgists
- Industrial Relations
- Nordberg Crusher Course
- Azon level 2 (SCADA system development)
- Samtrac (High level safety management)
- Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM 2)
- Reddin (Identification of effectiveness areas)
- Senior Management Program at Stellenbosch University
- Effective Interviewing skills
- Negotiation skills
- Gibbs Management Development Program
- Stargate (Personal growth)
- Insead Continuous Improvement Course
Timeline
Senior Process Engineer
Consulmet
01.2024 - Current
Group Head: Metallurgy
Petra Diamonds
01.2021 - 01.2024
Business Improvement Manager
Cullinan Diamond Mine
01.2019 - 01.2021
Acting - Assistant General Manager
Cullinan Diamond Mine
01.2018 - 01.2019
Surface manager
Cullinan Diamond Mine
01.2011 - 01.2017
Production Superintendent
Cullinan Diamond Mine
01.2007 - 01.2011
Plant Manager
NAMDEB - Elizabeth Bay Mine
01.2001 - 01.2007
Plant Supt (Production)
De Beers - Finsch
01.2000 - 01.2001
Assistant Plant Supt (Production)
De Beers - Finsch
01.1999 - 01.2000
Assistant Plant Supt (Recovery)
De Beers - Finsch Mine
01.1998 - 01.1999
Mineral processing Engineer
De Beers - Koffiefontein Mine
01.1997 - 01.1998
Senior Plant Metallurgist
De Beers - Finsch Mine
01.1996 - 01.1997
Plant Metallurgist
De Beers - Finsch Mine
01.1995 - 01.1996
Learner diplomat
De Beers - Finsch Mine
01.1991 - 01.1994
National Higher Diploma - Extractive Metallurgy
Vaal Triangle Technicon
01.1991 - 01.1994
Grade 12 certificate -
Rustenburg High School
01.1982 - 01.1987
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