Phelokazi Mdwadube
Chemical Engineer
Cape Town
Summary
Results-driven MSc Chemical Engineering candidate and Refinery Optimization Intern with hands-on experience in Linear Programming (LP) modeling, crude selection, and refinery optimization at Astron Energy (Pty) Ltd. Expertise in aligning technical insights with commercial objectives has led to improved refinery performance and strategic alignment. Committed to leveraging strong analytical, problem-solving, and collaborative skills in optimization, planning, or technical roles to drive operational excellence and innovation within the industry. Passionate about contributing to projects that enhance efficiency and sustainability in chemical engineering processes.
Overview
1
1
years of professional experience
Work History
Enterprise Value Chain Optimisation Intern
Astron Energy (Pty) Ltd
Cape Town
01.2025 - Current
- Supports the Enterprise Value Chain Optimisation (EVCO) team in refinery planning and optimisation through Linear Programming (LP) modelling to maximise margin, optimise crude selection, and align refinery operations with business strategy.
- Assists in crude selection by running and interpreting LP stacks, performing sensitivity analyses and communicating outcomes to commercial and planning teams.
- Develops and maintains 0–3 month Short-Term Campaign (STC) plans, updating refinery posture, demands, price sets, and operational constraints.
- Conducts sensitivity analyses for new crude blends and product yield shifts to identify margin-improvement opportunities.
- Prepares and distributes daily refinery update minutes, covering crude intake, product inventories, unit performance, and operational risks.
- Collaborates with process engineers and planners to align LP assumptions with real refinery conditions (e.g., unit constraints, feed availability, product specs).
- Conducts value analysis of disapproved crudes and contributed to updating crude valuation models.
- Shadowed Process Engineers in refinery operations.
- Developed organizational skills through managing multiple tasks simultaneously while adhering to strict deadlines.
Final Year Research Student Supervisor
University of Cape Town
Cape Town
10.2024 - 11.2024
- Supervised students conducting laboratory experiments for final-year research projects.
- Maintained meticulous records of research activities, ensuring accuracy and compliance with ethical guidelines.
- Enhanced research quality by implementing rigorous data collection and analysis methods.
Chemical Engineering Teaching Assistant
University of Cape Town
Cape Town
05.2023 - 11.2024
- Helped with grading assignments and tests, providing constructive feedback to students based on results.
- Supported classroom activities, tutoring, and reviewing work.
- Offered constructive feedback on student assignments, helping them refine their writing skills and comprehension.
Phambili Peer Advisor
University of Cape Town
Cape Town
03.2023 - 11.2024
- Facilitated group discussions among peers, fostering critical thinking skills and collaborative problem-solving abilities.
- Encouraged responsible decision-making among peers by sharing insights on time management strategies, study tips, and stress management techniques.
- Conducted regular check-ins with assigned students, offering tailored advice for their unique needs and goals.
Data Analyst Intern
DATA4MIA Program (UCT)
Cape Town
12.2021 - 01.2022
- Analysed municipal electricity cost and service-delivery data for ESKOM; produced insights using Excel dashboards.
- Converted raw datasets into meaningful formats by performing extensive pre-processing activities such as normalization and transformation.
- Identified trends and patterns in complex datasets through exploratory data analysis, leading to actionable insights.
Education
Master of Science - Chemical Engineering
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa 04.2001 -
Bachelor of Science - Chemical Engineering
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa 04.2001 -
Skills
Refinery Linear programme modelling optimisation
Short-term production planning
Understanding of refining operations
Analytical problem-solving
Cross-functional communication skills
Teamwork and collaboration
Critical & Strategic Thinking
Fast learner
Adaptability and flexibility
Microsoft Office Suite
Scheduling
Research and analysis
References
Available upon request.
Timeline
Enterprise Value Chain Optimisation Intern
Astron Energy (Pty) Ltd
01.2025 - Current
Final Year Research Student Supervisor
University of Cape Town
10.2024 - 11.2024
Chemical Engineering Teaching Assistant
University of Cape Town
05.2023 - 11.2024
Phambili Peer Advisor
University of Cape Town
03.2023 - 11.2024
Data Analyst Intern
DATA4MIA Program (UCT)
12.2021 - 01.2022
Master of Science - Chemical Engineering
University of Cape Town
04.2001 -
Bachelor of Science - Chemical Engineering
University of Cape Town
04.2001 -