Personnel

Lourens Greyling
Geology

BSc (Hons) (Geology) University of Pretoria -1969
Further part time post degree studies at U.P. from 1970-1974
1974: Lecturer at Dept. of Geology at U.P.
1970-1973: Several management courses at ex General Mining & Finance Corp. (now BHP Billiton)
Agricultural Management Course at Unisa 1984

Past experience base

1965 Technical assistant in geophysical exploration with Geological Survey of S. A.

Coal

• Witbank Coal Field (Trans Natal): 1970-1974
• Highveld Coal Field (Trans Natal): 1970-1974
• Ermelo Coal Field (Trans Natal): 1970-1974
• Consultation to different small Mining Companies in Middelburg, Carolina, Belfast and Hendrina areas. 1977-2000
• Moatize Coal Field, Tete Province, Mosambique- Benga Block (Riversdale Mining from Australia): 2007
• Boschmanslaagte Reserves near Hendrina: Took over running prospecting activities and compiled preliminary geological report.

Gold

• Fairview Gold Mine at Barberton; (1975-1977)

Other experience (1977-2006)

• Consultation on groundwater.
• Consultation on platinum
• Small scale exploration on base minerals
• Fossil oil: Exploration in Port Nolloth area and southern part of Namibia.
• Environmental programmes on coal exploration permit areas.
• Consultation on dimension stone.
• Above was done for different clients.

Joined Gemecs as associate since January 2008

Also consulting work on coal for Wescoal since April 2008.

Hein Fourie
Mine Design and Scheduling

NDIP Civil. Pretoria Technicon
Henley Management Course. Grinaker LTA

Specialisation

• Reserve modeling
• Mine layouts (Open pit and Underground)
• Construction of mining models
• Mine study evaluations
• Short term detailed production schedules
• Software support

Expertise

• Mine design and scheduling using Minex Open Pit and Underground Scheduler
• Mine design and scheduling using XPAC scheduling software
• Haul route and Fleet optimization using Talpac
• Support on Minex Open Pit and Underground Scheduler

Past experience base

Hein obtained an Engineering Diploma, NDip (Civil) in 1993. Hein also successfully completed a 2-year Henley Management course, presented by Grin-LTA.

He was initially employed by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry where he was part of a team working on civil construction operations responsible for production, survey and quality control. Major projects he was involved in were the Kakamas Orange River project, and Drie-Koppies Dam in Swaziland.

In 1995 Hein was employed by Moolman Mining SA, working at Wonderwater mine near Sasolburg. As contract planning manager Hein formed part of a project team which successfully planned and operated a combined Strip- and Underground mine for SASOL – Vereeniging coal fields.

In 2003 Hein joined MRM Mining Services as a mining consultant. He was responsible for designing the layouts of projects, geological reserving, and scheduling of production activities of the specific designated projects. He also compiled the required reports for the specific operation.

In 2005 Hein decided to work independently, and continued successfully with his services as mining consultant. He shared and gained his experience in mine planning, both green- and brown field studies, while working shoulder to shoulder with mining engineers, surveyors and contractors. He has also developed mine designs and production schedules for various Mining Consulting companies, as well as for Mining companies, and has therefore built a sound and widespread client base.

Hein joined Gemecs (Pty) Ltd in March 2012. He brings value to the company with his Mine design and Scheduling experience.

Eugène de Villiers
Mining

B.Eng Mining, University of Pretoria

Specialisation

• Green and Brown Field Mine Design Skills with the emphasis on Open Cast and Underground Coal Mines as well as Trackless Hard Rock mines
• Due Diligence Studies
• Conceptual Studies
• Pre-feasibility Studies
• Feasibility Studies
• Financial modelling of above studies
• Mining Method Evaluation and Equipment Selection for new projects
• Project Management
• Development of Mine Works Programmes as part of Mining Right Application
• Business management (Vision, Mission, Planning, Budgeting, Managing
• Planning and Development within a production environment.
• Managing a production environment.
• Optimisation within the production environment
• From initialising to executing and management of Capital projects
• Negotiations with equipment manufacturers and suppliers
• Wide experience in mining environment on all levels
• Management of Exploration Projects

Past experience base

Eugène graduated as Mining engineer (B.Eng mining) at the University of Pretoria in 1993. He has done his junior engineering years in the production environment on underground coal mines and underground and opencast iron ore mines and obtained his Mine Managers Certificate for Coal mines in 1996. He left the production environment as Manager mining/Assistant mine manager on one of the Iscor Mining (now Exxaro) coal mines. He has also managed the opencast section of Kriel Colliery for a year.

He was since then involved in the execution of feasibility studies and detail mine designs for various consulting companies (DRA, TWP, ERM, MCS) as well as mining houses (Total Coal, Anglo Platinum, Exxaro, Optimum Coal Holdings, Xstrata etc.) in South Africa (Hard rock and coal). He is also professionally registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa and is consulting in his own entity ECMA Consulting (Pty) Ltd since October 2011.

He has attended various business related courses at the WITS Business School and other tertiary institutions to advance his mining, business and project related skills.

Coenraad (Coenie) van Niekerk
Managing Director & Consulting Geologist

MSc (Geology), University of the Free State, Bloemfontein
Management Diploma (MDP Mining), UNISA Business School, Pretoria
Member of the South African Council of Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP) 400066/98
Fellow Member of the Geological Society of South Africa

Specialisation

• Computer Geological Modelling
• Geological Database validation and verification
• Resource Estimation
• Coal Exploration
• Computer model auditing
• Implementation of geological computer systems
• Due Diligence
• Mine evaluation
• Project valuation
• Project Geology (concept, pre-feasibility, feasibility and implementation phases)

Expertise

• The verification and validation of geological datasets, both borehole and analytical data primarily with respect to coal (bituminous, sub bituminous, coking and anthracite deposits).
• Project Management – Coal Geology (Target generation, exploration, concept pre-feasibility, feasibility and implementation phases)
• The compilation of complex mine and project geological computer models.
• The evaluation of mine and project geological models with respect to their viability and integrity.
• Coal resource evaluation, due diligence studies, resource classification, preparing of resource declarations and writing of competent person reports both SAMREC and JORC codes.

Past experience base

Coenie worked as student geologist in Central and Southern Namibia plus the Northern Cape, South Africa, on base metal exploration projects (copper, lead, zinc), underground mapping, geochemical (soil and stream and chip sampling), geophysical surveys (magnetic, gravity, IP, SP), mapping (aerial photos, plan table), logging drill chips. He did the regional mapping of the Qwa-Qwa area in the eastern Free State, South Africa, whilst he was a student.

He completed his master’s degree in geology in 1976, the title of his thesis being: The geology of an area North east of Graaff-Reinett in the Karoo, South Africa.

He was employed on the Highveld Coalfields for a period of 3 years as both exploration geologist and mine geologist, gaining experience in coal geology, coal exploration, coal mining (bord and pillar mining, plus longwall), and shaft sinking (vertical and incline). During this period he developed a keen interest in dolerite intrusions and their affect on coal (structurally and quality).

He left Sasol Mining and joined General Mining (Trans-Natal Coal Corporation) to start work as a senior mine geologist in the Witbank Coalfield on both multi seam underground mines (bord and pillar with stooping) and opencast mines, both truck and shovel and dragline operations. During this period he was introduced to coal beneficiation for both the export and domestic markets.

Coenie developed an interest in mine design, mine planning and scheduling and was instrumental in the creation of geological computer models, opencast pit designs and scheduling using a software package called MESCEDES.

He was promoted to the position of Technical Manager at Optimum Colliery and was involved in a number of large projects and was a member of the project team that introduced multi-product mines in South Africa, producing coal for both the export and Eskom markets using double stage coal beneficiation plants.

After three years he was transferred to the Coal Exploration Division as Chief Geologist Exploration, responsible for exploration in all the coal hosting provinces in South Africa, as well as Swaziland. He was a member of a project team that developed a coal logging coding system and was responsible for the introduction of a General Borehole Data Base for the company.

After seven years in coal exploration he was transferred to Trans-Natal Head Office in Johannesburg and was responsible for exploration plus target generation for exploration in Southern African. He visited Madagascar as a team member for a due diligence study of the Sakoa Coalfield in southern Madagascar.

He was transferred to the operational division as Chief Geologist: Small Mines, responsible for the geological function on the small operations – both underground and opencut mines producing coal for the metallurgic market. He developed a keen interest in Low Phosphorous coal and other coal quality requirements for the metallurgic coal market.

After two years he was appointed as Chief Geologist: Information Systems, responsible for evaluating geological software packages, creating geological models for various projects and the creation of geological borehole databases for all the operations and projects in the group. Here he developed a keen interest in geological modelling and attended a number of courses in the use of various geological modelling packages and other software packages such as CAD and GIS packages.

He was appointed Manager: Geology Projects and Information Systems in 1994 subsequent to the merger between Trans-Natal and Rand Coal into Ingwe Coal Corporation. His main responsibility was to evaluate new geological modelling software packages, motivate and get approval for the introduction of the preferred modelling package, introducing the package and managing the roll out of the package on all South African Operations and projects in South Africa and Australia.

Since 1996 and after the implementation of the modelling software he became more involved in due diligence studies for mergers and acquisitions, prospecting permit applications and exploration programmes in overseas countries such as Australia (Queensland and NSW), Indonesia, India and South America.

Until 30 June 2006 when he left BHP Billiton Energy Coal, his main responsibilities were:

• Software support for all coal geologists in South Africa, due diligence studies for mergers and acquisitions in South America and Africa.
• Project work for various projects in South Africa and South America (concept, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies and implementations).
• Doing internal reviews of most projects by reviewing computer models, assisting with risk analyses and reading reports.
• Appointed Competent Person for various uncommitted resources in South Africa plus Cerrejón Coal Company in Colombia, South America, preparing the annual resource and reserve declarations and the writing and compiling of a Competent Persons report.
• Preparing Prospecting Works Permits under the new Minerals Act of South Africa for a number of uncommitted resources in South Africa.

In July 2006 Coenie joined Gemecs (Pty) Ltd as a director and co-owner to explore his passion for coal geology in the fields of geological modelling, resource estimate, mine and project evaluation and coal exploration.  Coenie was promoted to act as MD of Gemecs from April 2009.

Nico Denner
Director & Consulting Geologist

MBA University of Potchefstroom, Potchefstroom
BSc (Geology) (Hons.) Rand Afrikaans University (RAU), Johannesburg
Member of the South African Council of Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP) 400060/98
Fellow member of the Geological Society of South Africa
Member of the Society of Economic Geologists
Member of the Bushveld Branch GSSA

Specialisation

• PGE (Platinum Group Elements) Resource estimation
• PGE Evaluation
• Geological modelling (Structure and quality)
• PGE and Coal Exploration
• Coal geological modelling
• Database management
• Project Management

Expertise

• Compilation and interpretation of structural and quality PGE resource geological models.
• Exploration planning and management.

Past experience base

Nico started his geology career as a student in 1991. During his studies he worked on a number of mines, including Gold (Beatrix and St. Helena mine, Freestate gold fields), Manganese (Hotazel, Kalahari manganese fields) and also as field assistant in the Vredefort Dome with Potchefstroom University’s Geology department.

He completed his Geology degree in 1994, with Geology and Statistics as major subjects, and then moved to RAU (Rand Afrikaans University) in Johannesburg to complete his Honours degree. In 1995 he joined Gencor’s (today BHP Billiton) coal division as a graduate geologist. During the next 3 years he worked on several coal and anthracite mines including Koornfontein and Blinkpan mine, Zululand Anthracite Colliery, Douglas and Vandyksdrift Colliery and Optimum mine. Working on these different mines gave him exposure to both underground and open pit mining operations, multi seam and low seam mining as well as coal quality control, structural mapping, exploration, mine geological modelling, production and scheduling skills.

Early in 1998 Nico decided on a career change and joined Lonmin Platinum as Mine Geologist. During the next 10 years of his career he developed up to Mineral Resource manager, responsible for Lonmin’s Marikana operations. In this time he became an expert on the Bushveld complex western limb’s Merensky and UG2 reef horizons with regards to resource and reserve evaluation, production, scheduling and mining methods. He was extensively involved in the planning and management of the ongoing surface exploration programme, annual resource and reserve estimations, life of mine planning systems, underground quality evaluation, mining service and production delivery with regards to quality control, as well as the design and implementation of automated monthly mineral resource systems. He was also part of several project teams and responsible for the technical and resource input for the planning and design of new shaft blocks, new expansion projects, shaft sinking, and shaft deepening projects.

During his time as Manager Geology and Mineral Resource Manager he acted on numerous occasions as Technical Services Manager for both Western Platinum Mine as well as Marikana operations. He used these opportunities to further his leadership and managerial development. In 2002 he completed his MBA studies to equip himself with advanced managerial, strategic thinking, production planning, marketing, financial and people management skills.

Nico joined Gemecs (Pty) Ltd in August 2007. He brings value to the company with his Platinum production and exploration experience, as well as coal experience.

Esther Odendaal
Geologist

BSc (Hons) (Geology), University of the Free State
Member of the South African Council of Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP) 400454/11

Past experience base

Esther graduated as a geologist from the University of the Free State in 2007 and started working at Gemecs as a field geologist in February 2008. Esther is responsible for the core logging and sampling of exploration boreholes.

Cobus Erasmus
Geologist

BSc (Hons) Geology, University of Pretoria

Past experience base

Cobus studied at the University of Pretoria and completed his Geology Honours degree in November 2011. From January 2012 to September 2012 Cobus worked at a small geological and environmental consultancy, which focused mainly on coal exploration. During this time he performed basic geological modeling in Surfer, compiled maps in ArcGIS 10 and conducted geological desktop studies on various commodities. He joined Gemecs at the start of October 2012.

Tiaan Fourie
Geologist

BSc (Hons) Geology, University of Pretoria

Past experience base

Tiaan studied at the University of Pretoria and completed his Honours degree in Geology during November 2011. While he was studying, he joined a small geological and environmental consultancy which focused mainly on coal exploration. He remained within their employment from November 2009 to September 2012. During this timeframe, he performed basic geological modelling in Surfer, compiled maps in ArcGIS 10, conducted geological desktop studies on various commodities and did core logging and sampling on sites in Mpumalanga and Zimbabwe. From September 2012 to April 2021 Tiaan was part of several geological projects concerning various commodities and resources including tin, coal and groundwater. During this stage of his career he remained exposed to the theoretical facet of geology through conducting numerous desktop studies as well as the practical side of geology through undertaking several core logging ventures and geophysical surveys. He joined Gemecs at the start of April 2021.

Joac Scholtz
Geologist

BSc (Hons) Geology, University of the Free State

Past experience base

Joac studied at the University of the Free State where he completed his Geology honours degree in November 2011. As a student, during varsity (January 2008 to June 2011), he worked for the Department of Geology at the UFS as a Demi in various courses to promote in-house training. In 2011 he acted as Junior Lecturer for the first year geology class (period of two months).