Thobelani Dlamini

My work focuses on providing process engineering input into the operation of the catalytic polymerisation and hydrotreating units to ensure a safe, stable and predictable operation. Responsibilities includede:

• Processs monitoring, optimisation and troubleshooting.
• Mass and energy balance development to track material, also used used for troubleshooting.
• Development of asset health prediction using first principle, to assist in process optimisation and mantainance planning for cost optimisation.
• Test run development and implementation to improve plant efficiency.
• Project development to debottleneck the plant through design modifications.
• Custodian for the process engineering plant data, including, updating of the operating envelopes, process flow diagrams, safety data sheets, etc.
• Utilise modelling software (i.e., Aspen, AFT Fathom, etc.) to troubleshoot and optimization of equipment and/or plant.
• Design verification and HAZOPs on various sections of the plant to ensure process and design integrity is maintained.
• Root cause analysis and risk mitigation for process instabilities.
• Process inspection during shutdowns, ensuring equipment integrity, and reliability for sustained operations.
• Management of change process to safely implement operational or design modifications.

• Responsible for process engineering inputs into the operation of synthetic oil fractionation and vacuum distillation section, ensure safe, stable and predictable operation.
• Designed and executed test runs, for process improvements, leading to reduced costs and increased efficiency.
• Improve column efficiency by identification of defect during column maintenance, tray design was modified to original design thus improving separation.
• Reduced production downtime by conducting thorough root cause analyses and implementing corrective actions.
• Developed documentation, diagrams, and specifications to meet project requirements and regulatory standards.
• Participated in project reviews to enable ongoing status tracking and reporting.
• Developed process control strategies for optimizing equipment performance and reducing variability in production output.
• Coached newly hired employees and interns while observing progress and delegating tasks.
• Identified bottlenecks in the production line through capacity analysis studies, increasing overall throughput rates as a result.

Contributed to delivery of various projects across clients in South Africa and abroad. Responsibilities included:

• Process, safety equipment design and rating, including PSV sizing, pump design and heat exchanger evaluation for Sasol Clean Fuel project.
• Conducted a hydraulic and thermodynamic modelling to support equipment design and efficiency.
• Facilated and documented HAZOP studies, ensuring robust process safety and risk mitigation in design.
• Conducted feasibility studies and conceptual engineering design for proposed client project.
• Perfomed project implementation and delivering basic and detailed engineering design.
• Perfomed a design economic evaluation, cost optimisation and value engineering practices.
• Conducted third party design verification
• Offered assistance for construction, commissioning, and start-up support
• Developed cost estimates and project specifications for proposals.
• Supported project governance and multidisciplinary coordination, ensuring alignment between engineering, operations, and contractor for a successful project execution.

• Optimize production process by identifying areas of improvement therefore ensuring the process operate within the industry benchmark.
• Assist metallurgist to solve technical, system and metallurgical problems in accordance with company and customer requirements.
• Generate mass and energy balance calculation, metallurgical accounting, process design calculation.
• Construct and read process flow diagrams (PFD) and process and instrument drawing (P&ID).
• Monitor and optimise furnace performance with PLCs, SCADA, StarLims, Minesuite ELS and FurnStar Minstral.
• Assist production foreman with shift management, coordinating day to day furnace operation, and managing contractors.
• Train employees in standard operating procedures (SOPs), planned job observations (PJOs) and safety, health, environment, and quality (SHEQ) topics to ensure continued complied to set SHEQ standards.
• Assist metallurgist to prepare HAZOP and risk assessment study for planned furnace shutdowns
• Provide monthly reports on production performance.