Level 4 Mine Planner
Alastair Macfarlane
Purpose of this session

To brief industry and employers of the progress of the
development of the L4 qualification

To obtain comments on the qualification

To obtain a mandate to proceed with registration
www.minerpsolutions.com
Purpose of this session

To brief industry and employers of the progress of the
development of the L4 qualification

To obtain comments on the qualification

To obtain a mandate to proceed with registration
www.minerpsolutions.com
The need for Mine Planning qualifications

No current recognised training or qualifications

Scarce skill in industry worldwide

No career pathway in Mine Planning

External demands for more competency:
 Samrec
 Samval
 Reporting of production forecasts
www.minerpsolutions.com
History

Industry Planning Forum formed in 2004

Terms of reference agreed

Broad definition of learning pathway defined

Presentations to ECSA and MQA

Support from AMMSA

Support from ECSA

Support from MQA

Engagement with Wits : development/delivery of L6 programme

Formation of MQA Steering Committee

MQA needs analysis confirmed industry need

QCTO process initiated 2011

L4 qualification occupational profile in QCTO format
www.minerpsolutions.com
Initial mandate

Identify the need for such qualifications

Identify a learning and career pathway

Align to MQA processes

Align to industry needs

Allow registration at higher levels

Allow entry at post-matric level

Maintain parallel entry options
www.minerpsolutions.com
Learning pathway : Mine Planning
NQF Level 8
• Entry : L7
L8 Manager/Engineer
NQF Level 7
• Entry : L6
L7 Planner (Pr.
Technologist)
NQF Level 6
• Entry : L5, GCC for MOs
NQF Level 5
• Entry : L4, or Adv Certificates
(Survey, Certificate Programme)
MQA Level 4
• Entry : Matric + Entry Programme
www.minerpsolutions.com
• Advanced Diploma or B. Tech
• 3 years mentored assessment
• Registration as Pr. Eng. Technologist
L6 Planner (Senior)
• N Dip in Engineering Technology
• Advanced Certificate (Stage 2 MRM)
or Higher Certificate in Engineering
• Registration as Pr.Eng. Technician
• Demonstrated competency
• QCTO Award
L5 Planner (Mine)
• Higher Certificate (Stage 1 MRM)
• QCTO Occupational Award
• Demonstrated Competency
L4 Planner (Junior)
• QCTO Occupational Skills Certificate
• Demonstrated competency
Entry programme
MQA Level 2-3
• Entry : Matric
• B. Eng.
• 3 years mentored assessment
• Registration as Pr. Eng.
• Up to 2 years
• Elem. & Basic Certificates
• General programme
• Customised to Company
L2/3 and L4 qualifications
Exit L4
Knowledge
Mineral resource Management
Entry Equivalent
L4 plus RPL
L4
160 credits
Mining Engineering Practice
Operations management &
supervision
Practical skills
Work experience
Producing short term mining
Short and medium term plans and
schedules
schedules
Preparing and collating
information to determine planning
risks
Analysing production results
Infrastructure and resource
planning
Entry Equivalent
L2/3 plus RPL
Knowledge
Practical skills
Introduction to mine planning Updated mining layouts to
schedule the required resources to
achieve the production rates
L2/3
167 credits
Entry Matric
www.minerpsolutions.com
Work experience
Mine planning processes
Principles



Based on the way we would like planning to be
Qualification based on knowledge subjects, practical skills
development and demonstrated work experience
Incorporates manual as well as electronic planning and
design

Credits aligned to L4 benchmarks

Part of a progression of learning

Allows entry from bottom up, as well as side entry

Assessment criteria defined

Quality Assurance applied
www.minerpsolutions.com
Occupation and occupational progression
PROGRESSIONAL
OCCUPATIONS
THIS CURRICULUM
FEEDER
OCCUPATIONS
NQF 7/8
Mine Planning
Technologist/Engineer
NQF 6
Mine Planning Technician
NQF 5
Senior Mine Planner
NQF 4
Mine Planner
Planning
Learner
Official
Production
Supervisor
Surveyors/
Geologists/Rock
Engineering
4
www.minerpsolutions.com
Occupational profile

Design, programme and schedule the exploitation of
the mineral body in order to convert the mineral
resource into mineral reserves for the safe, healthy
and profitable extraction of the minerals in line with
organisational strategies.
www.minerpsolutions.com
Curriculum structure
1.1.
CURRICULUM STRUCTURE – Mine Planning Officer
Number
Title
NQF Credits
Level
KNOWLEDGE SUBJECTS
311701001-KS-1
Mineral Resource Management
4
36
311701001-KS-2
Mining Engineering Practice
4
13
311701001-KS-4
Operations Management and Supervision
4
4
33%
53
TOTAL CREDITS FOR KNOWLEDGE
PRACTICAL SKILLS
311701001-PM-1
Producing short and medium term Mineral Extraction layouts
and production schedules including resource and equipment
requirements for mining final products.
4
20
311701001-PM-2
Preparing and collating information to determine the risks
associated with the execution of the short and medium term
mine plan
4
4
311701001-PM-3
Analysing production results against planned schedules and
recommending corrective action
4
4
311701001-PM-4
Creating operational mining infrastructure and resources
schedule
4
4
20%
32
4
75
47%
75
TOTAL CREDITS FOR PRACTICAL SKILLS
WORK EXPERIENCE
311701001-WM-1
Short and medium term mineral extraction plans and schedules
available.
TOTAL CREDITS FOR WORK EXPERIENCE
TOTAL CREDITS FOR THE QUALIFICATION
www.minerpsolutions.com
160
Knowledge subject : MRM











Geological structures stratigraphy, rock groups and deposits of ore bodies and surrounding
rock as related to mine planning.
Concepts and principles of mine sampling and mineral quality determination and control
Theories, Techniques and practices used in mine surveying (Layouts, plan reading and
interpretation, volumes, sections, trigonometry)
Definitions and principles of Geological Modeling and the techniques of interpreting and
using these models for planning purposes.
Principles of applying mine design criteria to create a safe and healthy environment.
Economic principles behind a profitable mine plan (mineral quality parameters, blending, cut
off grade, pay limits, stope width, dilution, recovery, contamination, cost behaviour,
definition of profit, product prices and exchange rates)
Concepts and principles of integrated mine planning
Regulatory, compliance and reporting requirements that impact on mine planning (SAMREC
code, modifying factors etc.)
Application of mathematical and statistical calculations and analysis as it applies to mine
planning.
Concept of feasibility and how this applies to mine planning.
Life cycle and sequence of creating, building up and maintaining replacement/mineable
reserves
www.minerpsolutions.com
Knowledge subject : Mining Engineering

Types of mining methods and applications and the
key planning principles associated with them
 Typical mining methods
 Mining layouts




Basic mine design
Mining cycles
Mining infrastructure
Constraints management
 Safe and healthy mine planning
www.minerpsolutions.com
Knowledge subject : Mining Technical Services
practices




Principles and application of basic rock engineering
as applied to mine design and layouts.
Principles and application of mine environmental
control as it pertains to mine planning .
Constraints and assumptions that could affect mine
planning (Infrastructure, logistics, services)
Performance factors of equipment and people
(capacity, density, air velocities etc.)
www.minerpsolutions.com
Occupational Tasks identified




Producing short and medium term Mineral Extraction
layouts and production schedules including resource
and equipment requirements for mining final
products.
Preparing and collating information to determine the
risks associated with the execution of the short and
medium term mine plan.
Analysing production results against planned
schedules and recommending corrective action.
Creating operational mining infrastructure and
resources schedules
www.minerpsolutions.com
Entry requirements



National Certificate NQF level 4 with Maths and
Physical Science; National Foundational Learning
Competence.
Successful completion of a pre assessment covering
the requirements as specified. (Specify the standard)
Comply with the Mining Industry medical fitness
requirements for working in an underground mine.
www.minerpsolutions.com
Delivery




After mandate agreed, qualification to be submitted
to QCTO for evaluation and approval
QCTO then recommends to SAQA that qualification
be registered
Once registered the occupational qualification may
be offered to learners
Development and delivery by accredited providers,
recommended by AQP
www.minerpsolutions.com
Quality Assurance


MQA as the Assessment Quality Partner
Involvement of the SAIMM, GSSA, Association of Mine
Managers, Colliery Managers Association, Mine
Ventilation Society of SA, South African National
Institute of Rock Engineers – Lead and Co-ordinated
by the MQA taking up all the legal obligations related
to this role.
www.minerpsolutions.com
Assessment Quality Partner role






Set industry quality standards for the qualification;
Maintain industry quality standards of the
qualification;
Develop assessment items for external assessment;
Register external delivery sites where the qualification
will be delivered;
Maintain databases of providers of the qualification,
and of results; and
Continually maintain the status of the qualification
within industry;
www.minerpsolutions.com
Requirements of providers




Facilitators of learning for this subject should have a
Mining Engineering, Survey, Geology or Mineral
Resource Management or another relevant technical
Mining qualification at least at NQF level 6 or higher;
Facilitators must have at least five years relevant post
qualification operational experience on an
underground Hardrock Mine;
Facilitators must be technical experts in the various
sub field of Mineral Resource management to
conduct the training and ensure ongoing relevance of
the material;
Facilitator/Learner ratio should not exceed 1:20
www.minerpsolutions.com
Next stages
Identify skills
required
Develop
programmes
Facilitate
delivery
•
•
•
•
•
•
www.minerpsolutions.com
QA
Certificate
Advocacy to industry;
Invitation to providers to participate in
development;
Adoption of a funding strategy;
Selection of providers;
Implementation of development;
Selection of delivery mechanisms.
Acknowledgements

Members of the Industry Mine Planning Forum

Members of the MQA Steering Committee

ECSA

MQA organisation

Ben van As

SAIMM

MineRP
www.minerpsolutions.com
Questions to be answered




Are you happy with the structure, content and level of
this qualification?
Does it suit the needs of industry?
Do you see it being delivered by a single provider, or
multiple providers?
Is it one or two qualifications?
More detail can be found at the SAIMM website
www.saimm.co.za
www.minerpsolutions.com
Mandates
Do you agree with the need for Mine Planning
and Design qualifications?
Yes
No
Please state your
reasons below
Do you agree with the structure and
content of the L4 qualification?
Yes
No
Please state your reasons
below
Do you think there should be
separate L2/3 and L4, or should it be
the same programme?
One
qual’n
Two
qual.ns
Please state your reasons
below
It is voluntary to declare your name and affiliation.
www.minerpsolutions.com