Richard Collins

Experience

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  Iscor

  Nov 1981 - Jul 1997

  Mine planning and design for the Hillendale, Fairbreeze and Gravelotte heavy mineral (titanium) projects. Responsible for 50% of colliery production with a workforce of 1800. Several mining methods were used to extract coking coal from thin seams. Various projects were completed including new adits and main ventilation fans. In addition, I completed the Environmental Management Programme Report (EMPR) for the colliery and was responsible for rehabilitation. Worked in the production and mine planning sections at Sishen Iron Ore Mine, Durnacol and Thabazimbi Iron Ore Mine. Obtained blasting certificates and mine manager certificates of competency.

  • Mining Engineer

    Nov 1995 - Jul 1997

  • Underground Manager / Mining Engineer

    Sept 1985 - Oct 1995

  • Engineer-in-Training

    Nov 1981 - Aug 1985
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  Exxaro Resources

  Aug 1997 - Dec 2014

  Responsibility for all large projects within Exxaro as well as the civil, mechanical and electrical engineering disciplines. This department had 50 permanent and 150 contract employees (depending on project demand), with 16 employees reporting directly. The major projects were in the coal and heavy mineral business units. Project managers and engineers also worked on co-generation (plant off-gas) and renewable energy projects (wind turbine and solar PV). An extremely good safety record was achieved without fatalities on any of the projects. Show less Project manager for the Hillendale, Wavecrest (Eastern Cape) and Fairbreeze heavy mineral projects.Hillendale was constructed in 2000 and commissioned in April 2001. Mining was carried out using hydraulic monitors at a rate of 1200 tph from an orebody with a high slimes content. The beneficiation of the high slimes feed proved to be a breakthrough in the heavy minerals industry. Hillendale was the first mine in South Africa to use positive displacement pumps for the pumping and disposal of slimes.Construction of the jig plant at Leeuwpan Coal Mine to produce a product suitable for Eskom power stations. Project manager for the highly successful Inyanda Coal Mine (capital payback of 8 months). The plant produces 1.5 Mtpa of A-grade export coal and sized coal for the domestic market. A new railway siding was constructed at Blackhill for the export coal.Project implementation of the char plant at Grootegeluk Coal Mine. The plant produces high quality char (semi-coke) for customers in the ferrochrome industry. Show less

  • Programme Manager, Iron Ore

    May 2012 - Dec 2014

  • Group Manager, Projects

    Jan 2012 - Apr 2012

  • Manager, Projects and Engineering

    Jul 2006 - Dec 2011

  • Project Manager

    Aug 1997 - Jun 2006
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  Rum Coal

  Jan 2011 - now

  Director

  Co-founder and Director of Rum Coal. The Company is developing Vaalbank Colliery to produce metallurgical coal for domestic and export markets.

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  Maelgwyn Mineral Services Africa

  Feb 2015 - now

  Managing Director

  Managing Director of a company involved in process design and the supply of mineral processing equipment to mines in Africa. The company runs a laboratory in South Africa for testwork on mineral samples from African and international projects. The company specializes in flotation, the processing of refractory gold ore and cyanide destruction.