Ntebaleng Setlau
Polokwane
Summary
Accomplished Process Chemist with expertise in water treatment and power plant cycle chemistry. Specialises in ion exchange, spiral reverse osmosis, and brine concentration, alongside a foundation in sewage treatment and cooling-water recovery. Delivers effective plant commissioning and project management, ensuring compliance with industry standards and optimising water recovery processes.
Overview
1
1
Language
1
1
Certification
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Snr Chemist Chemistry
Eskom SOC
06.2021 - 11.2026
- Implement new chemistry technology and plant-conditioning programs with engineers, maintainers and operators to support cost-effective operation, availability and reliability.
- Monitored chemical analyses and relationships to confirm plant conditions, identified root causes, and implemented corrective actions to meet established standards.
- Monitored adherence to company policies, directives, procedures and standards; investigated chemistry deviations and conducted risk assessments to identify and address out-of-specification conditions.
- Compiled, reviewed, and submitted technical reports on corrosion, erosion, and deposition, evaluating effectiveness of chemistry regimes to ensure compliance and enhance operational safety.
- Developed and mentored chemistry staff, providing technical guidance and support to enhance performance and quality of departmental services.
- Collaborate with Outage, Boiler, Turbine, Chemical and Process Engineering teams, Corporate specialists and the Research Institute.
- Present monthly performance to senior executives, including plant risk and effects on LOPP; support water, coal and oil laboratories.
- Chairperson of Station Water committee to ensure total Compliance to Water use license
- Led business continuity planning for water treatment plants to ensure uninterrupted operations.
- Review, critique and comment on chemistry standards with Corporate and Chemistry Specialists; develop and evaluate procedural documentation.
Snr Supervisor Technical Chemistry
Eskom SOC
05.2019 - 05.2021
- Managed bulk chemicals, offloading and interpreting out-of-specification results; implemented corrective actions and provided recommendations to ensure compliance.
- Managed bulk chemicals and offloading; interpreted out-of-specification results and implemented corrective actions to ensure compliance and operational integrity.
- Monitored plant deviations, performed corrections and CIP; guided operators on corrective deviations and issued temporary operating procedures.
- Inspected plants, prepared technical reports with actionable recommendations, and maintained analytical-instrument availability and reliability through effective replacement planning.
- Set up and commission new instruments and plants; manage Spiral Reverse Osmosis and brine concentration plant operations in line with operating philosophies.
- Developed service plans for maintenance and calibration of analytical instruments., maintenance and calibration plans; evaluate analytical data and develop tracking methods.
- Participated in production meetings to address technical issues and improve processes. and technical forums, technical audits and SHEQ findings; conduct investigations, job observations and risk assessments.
- Compiled section budgets, controlled authorized expenditure, managed contracts, and supported project management using PMBOK and project life cycle management to align with organizational goals.
- Provided coaching and mentoring to staff to enhance their skills and performance.
Acting Chemistry Manager
Eskom SOC
01.2019 - 05.2019
- Oversaw chemistry department operations, including two laboratories, water purification plant, sewage plant, cycle-water chemistry and cooling-water systems.
- Directed department budget, ensured procurement compliance, and coordinated engineering protocols, change management, contracts, and research projects to support operational efficiency.
- Ensured compliance with SHEQ, ISO 14001:2017, ISO 9001:2005, ISO 18001:2017, Eskom working policies and chemistry standards.
- Managed staff training and stakeholder relationships while overseeing plant recoveries during emergencies to ensure consistent operational availability and reliability.
- Led staff training and maintained stakeholder relationships while managing plant recoveries during emergencies to ensure operational availability and reliability.
- Monitored cycle chemistry system parameters to ensure targets were met.
Snr Advisor Chemistry (Acting)
Eskom SOC
01.2019 - 05.2019
- Compiled and coordinated commissioning programs for new and existing plants, aligning chemistry focus areas with CHC, BTFR, FAC, and water and environmental management forums to ensure regulatory adherence.
- Compiled commissioning programs for new and old plant; coordinated chemistry focus areas for CHC, BTFR, FAC, Water and Environmental Management forums.
- Monitored compliance with company policies, directives, procedures and standards; investigated and implemented innovative chemistry technologies to enhance operational effectiveness.
- Monitored compliance with company policies and standards, investigated new chemistry technologies, and implemented improvements.
- Conducted occurrence investigations of chemistry deviations and audited chemistry plant processes against procedures and operations.
- Monitored and optimized water treatment, Lime, Feed dosing, Boiler dosing and Sampling systems to meet targeted performance.
- Developed and mentored chemistry staff, forecasting plant requirements and availability to align with station production plan and optimise resource allocation.
- Approved emergency procedures for major plant breakdowns and formulated operating strategies to address identified deficiencies, ensuring safety and operational continuity.
Snr Advisor Technical Chemistry (Acting)
Eskom SOC
07.2014 - 11.2014
- Conducted occurrence investigations of chemistry deviations and audited chemistry plant processes against procedures and operations.
- Monitored compliance with company policies, directives, procedures and standards; investigated and implemented new chemistry technology.
- Compiled commissioning programs for new and existing plants; coordinated chemistry focus areas for CHC, BTFR, FAC, and water and environmental management forums, ensuring compliance and enhancing operational efficiency.
- Monitored and optimised water treatment, lime, feed dosing, boiler dosing, and sampling systems, achieving targeted performance standards.
- Conducted daily audits of the chemistry data-management system (LIMS); performed plant walks and inspections, reporting deviations and corrective actions.
- Approved emergency procedures for major plant breakdowns; developed and implemented operating strategies to address deficiencies and improve response effectiveness.
- Acted as Chemistry Manager and collaborated with Outage, Boiler, Auxiliary, Turbine and Process Engineering teams.
- Developed and mentored chemistry staff; forecasted plant requirements and availability to align with station production plan and optimize resource allocation.
- Developed and mentored chemistry staff; forecasted plant requirements and availability to meet the Station production plan.
Chemistry Manager
Eskom SOC
01.2009 - 10.2009
- Managed chemistry department operations, including two laboratories, water purification plant, sewage plant, cycle-water chemistry and cooling-water systems, ensuring optimal functionality.
- Achieved target for all cycle chemistry individual system parameter excursions.
- Managed emergency plant recoveries to enhance availability and reliability while overseeing HR processes.
- Managed plant recoveries under emergency conditions, plant availability and reliability, and general HR processes.
- Oversaw department budget and ensured procurement-process adherence while coordinating engineering protocols, change management, and staff training to support stakeholder relationships.
- Ensured compliance with SHEQ, ISO 14001:2017, ISO 9001:2005, ISO 18001:2017, Eskom working policies and chemistry standards.
Shift Chemist
Eskom SOC
07.2006 - 07.2008
- Monitored deviations in plant operations to ensure compliance with safety and quality standards. from LIMS and chemical excursions from Occurrence management; commissioned plants returning to service.
- Engaged in daily production, quality and safety audits while managing plant configuration changes to ensure operational integrity.
- Performed cooling-water sampling, monitoring, analysis and control; managed chemical purchasing, stock levels and online-sampling verification.
- Conducted water-plant and clarifier-outlet analysis, control and troubleshooting; monitored lime slurry delivery lines and treatment-plant regimes.
- Supervised lime softening and polyelectrolyte plants; attended online panel alarms and reported deviations in daily technical meetings.
- Monitored and trended steam, feed, boiler and stator chemistry; supervised Snr shift technicians and instrument technicians.
- Participated in Condenser health care, plant production, recovery and chemistry forums; troubleshot systems and online instrumentation.
- Contributed to water management team and boiler tube failure reduction forum, addressing chemistry plant defects during outages.
QA/QC Technician
Investchem
01.2004 - 06.2006
- Adjusted batch products online, monitored effluents, prepared standards, calibrated instruments, and maintained quality-control charts to ensure compliance with product specifications.
- Monitored online products, including Sulphonic acid, SLES ES 25 and 70, EC 25 and 70, and Vestamid CDE; approved finished products and issued certificates of analysis.
- Issued batch-production sheets and calculations; contributed technical support during batch production and processing.
- Compiled monthly product reports, liaised with clients, troubleshot rejects, and validated performance on final products to improve customer satisfaction.
- Resolved customer complaints through effective communication and problem-solving to ensure customer retention.
Education
BTech - Laboratory Management
Tshwane University of Technology
Pretoria12-2013
Bachelor of Law - Laws-Unisa
University Of South Africa
Pretoria11-2026
PGDip - Management Practice
Henley Business School
Sandton07-2023
BTech - Chemistry
Vaal University of Technology
Vereeniging07-2020
BTech - Project Management
Tshwane University of technology
Pretoria06-2018
Certificate - Technology Management
DA Vinci
Midrand06-2015
Master of Science - Chemistry
Tshwane University of Technology
Pretoria, South Africa05-2027
Skills
- Chemical analysis; Data analysis; Data analysis software; Email management; Technical documentation; Presentation skills; Advanced data analysis
- Process optimisation; Stakeholder management; Audits and assessments; Communication; Client Relations; Risk Mitigation; Leadership; Leadership; Leadership; Teamwork; Teamwork; Team collaboration
- Critical thinking; Problem Solving; Decision Making; Operational efficiency; Time management; Task prioritisation; Dynamic problem-solving; Adaptability; Self-motivation; Interpersonal Skills; Innovation in chemistry; Works under pressure; Verbal communication
- Report writing
- Regulatory compliance
- Instrumentation troubleshooting
- Data management
- Chromatography techniques
- Data trend analysis
- Process validation
- Corrosion control techniques
- Water quality management
- Laboratory data systems
- Operational risk management
- Stakeholder communication
- Root cause analysis
- Laboratory management
- Lab equipment calibration
- Safety compliance
- Analytical methodologies
- Technical guidance
- Material analysis techniques
- Chemical synthesis methods
- Findings presentation
- Spectroscopic analysis
- Practical chemistry applications
- Reaction optimisation
Languages
English
Certification
Proffesional registered Scientist
Additional information
- Professional Forums and Collaboration
- Worked with Boiler Engineering and Chemical Engineers; chaired Chemistry feedback meetings.
- Member of Pre-treatment Forum, Cycle chemistry Forum, Cooling water Forum, Demin water Forum and On-line Analysers Forum.
Affiliations
- Professional Forums and Collaboration
- Worked with Boiler Engineering and Chemical Engineers; chaired Chemistry feedback meetings.
- Member of Pre-treatment Forum, Cycle chemistry Forum, Cooling water Forum, Demin water Forum and On-line Analysers Forum.
Certifications
01-2026
Timeline
Snr Chemist Chemistry
Eskom SOC
06.2021 - 11.2026
Snr Supervisor Technical Chemistry
Eskom SOC
05.2019 - 05.2021
Acting Chemistry Manager
Eskom SOC
01.2019 - 05.2019
Snr Advisor Chemistry (Acting)
Eskom SOC
01.2019 - 05.2019
Snr Advisor Technical Chemistry (Acting)
Eskom SOC
07.2014 - 11.2014
Chemistry Manager
Eskom SOC
01.2009 - 10.2009
Shift Chemist
Eskom SOC
07.2006 - 07.2008
QA/QC Technician
Investchem
01.2004 - 06.2006
BTech - Laboratory Management
Tshwane University of Technology
Bachelor of Law - Laws-Unisa
University Of South Africa
PGDip - Management Practice
Henley Business School
BTech - Chemistry
Vaal University of Technology
BTech - Project Management
Tshwane University of technology
Certificate - Technology Management
DA Vinci
Master of Science - Chemistry
Tshwane University of Technology