Head Mine Closure at Sasol

OPERATING ENTITY:         UBE: Mining (Various Mines)

Sasol Mining operates a number of coal mines that supply feedstock to the Secunda (Sasol Synfuels) and Sasolburg (Sasolburg Operations) complexes in South Africa. The coal that is supplied for Sasol Synfuels is mainly used as gasification feedstock while some is used to generate electricity. The coal Sasol supplies to the Sasolburg Operations is used to generate electricity and steam. Sasol also export coal from the Twistdraai Export Plant to international power generation customers. Mining activities commenced in 1952 in Sasolburg and in 1960 in Secunda. Some mines have subsequently reached their Life of Mine and are currently in the process of undergoing a decommissioning and remediation process with the aim of achieving sustainable closure and a closure certificate. 

ABOUT THE ROLE / PURPOSE OF THE JOB

The purpose of Mine Closure Department is to support a step change in business performance by developing the organisation’s capability to manage risks and exploit opportunities. Sasol’s current portfolio of assets include a number of mining and processing operations in the Secunda and Sasolburg areas. These mines are associated with significant mining related land and water exposures, legacies and opportunities. Although most operations have completed risk based mine closure plans aligned with Sasol 7x7 risk matrix, there is variability in the quality of the plans and the identification and implementation of action plans to improve mine closure planning over the life of Sasol mining. This leaves Sasol mining exposed to under or over representation of closure provision. Potential opportunities to reduce the final closure liability of the life of a mining right are not always directly evident, or where evident, not consistently implemented.

The Sasol mining closure department has developed a risk based approached aligned with R1147 financial provision legislation. This system has a particular focus on the integration and LoM planning to realise opportunities and realise value for the business.

The mine closure discipline and legislative requirements are undergoing constant change, which will impact on the company’s current and future ability to manage long-term liabilities and maintain its license to operate. All these changes have the potential to generate additional challenges and opportunities in relation to mine closure planning and implementation. This role needs to champion and deliver a step change improvement in mine closure planning and execution across Sasol mining.

The purpose of the role is to ensure that Sasol mining operations have stand-alone mine closure plans fully aligned to the risk based approach for the R1147 and in doing so ensure that closure liabilities are kept as low as possible, are accurately calculated, financial provision is in place and legal compliance is maintained. The role also entails integration of closure planning into LoM planning to generate value or prevent value destruction and the optimization of operational synergies that will reduce operational costs. The purpose of this role is also to ensure integration between disciplines across the operations to ensure mine closure is understood and embraced by other disciplines. This role will also be responsible for piloting new ideas, opportunities and technologies that will improve the mine closure practise and performance across Sasol’s operations.

The role is required to regularly present mine closure strategy and liability management to Executive Management team.

FUNCTIONAL OUTPUTS  

Core elements of job

   Operational, Financial and Technical Results

• Calculating and Funding of Closure Liability
• Engage with BU’s and Financial Departments to ensure that the closure provisions carries on the balance sheet are an actual reflection for the closure liability for Sasol mining and
• Advice and assist BU’s and sites across all jurisdiction in relation to compliance with legal requirements for funding of closure liabilities.
• Prepare and coordinate financial audit requirements for Sasol Mining when scheduled
• Stakeholders Engagement
• Build external mine closure network through participation at relevant industry meetings conferences and seminars
• Give inputs and comment on relevant internal and external reports and documents with regards to mine closure planning
• Participate in industry forums as needed
• Decommissioning and demolishment of infrastructure
• Ensure funds are allocated to demolishment projects and manage cost efficiency
• Demolishment of shaft infrastructure and manage process with relevant government departments
• Apply for mine closure certificate after decommissioning
• Implement monitoring protocols to monitor the success of remediation actions

   Leadership and growth results

• Consistently displays a positive and engaged manner.
• Motivated and driven to meet high standards of delivery which create high customer approval.
• Remains focused in times of uncertainty and ambiguity.
• Displays considerable personal effort to improve.
• Demonstrate the desired behaviors in agreement with the Sasol Value.
• Set and work towards own and departmental performance targets and goals as per performance agreement and Service Level Agreements.

     Management Results

• Manage own and department planning work and delivery according to targets.
• Assist with the implementation of corrective and remedial actions.
• Apply management principles according to a preferred management process to demonstrate proficiency in managerial skills application.

    Customer and relationship Results

• Demonstrate good understanding of customer needs.
• Ensure good relationship with mining personnel.
• Share key information and ideas or learning with customers and teams.
• Building and sustaining good relationships with external stakeholders.

    Innovation and improvement results

• Make suggestions to reduce mine closure liability.
• Monitor implementation of best practices.
• Investigate opportunities for improvement of demonstrated cost.

    SHE

• Overall accountability for environmental strategy to strive toward best in class safety performance and continuous improvement of key environmental metrics to maintain license to operate.
• Zero harm, zero fatalities, LWDCR.

    General  

• Information from various sources need to be analyzed, interpreted and integrated to provide the optimal mine closure strategy for every mine.
• It is a high pressure, financial and risk environment, governed by various legal requirements
• Engagement with various cross discipline stakeholders is critical

Please note:

• In line with Sasol’s commitment to Employment Equity, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups.  
• In addition to a pre-employment medical examination, some positions may require a physical fitness assessment as part of the normal selection criteria.  

Minimum Qualifications and Experience required

• Relevant B Degree in Mining Engineering, Mine Planning, Environmental Science or other relevant discipline.
• A postgraduate qualification in a relevant technical discipline is desirable.
• Knowledge of the relevant South African environmental legislation including the Mine Health and Safety Act.
• Typically, 10 years relevant experience in the field.

KEY COMPETENCIES REQUIRED  

• Demonstrated application of academic qualifications through experience working in the field.
• Demonstrated experience working in an operational mining environment preferably with the relevant commodity.
• Track record of leading ideas generation, translating these into practical initiatives to be implemented and demonstration of successful execution and delivery in the field.
• Demonstrated experience in a senior people leadership role within a technical environment including the coordination of knowledge sharing within a sub-discipline, managing workload and reviewing the work of others to ensure consistency with task requirements. This includes project management by interacting with multiple consulting disciplines and external specialist.
• Specialist knowledge in mine closure, within a large-scale mining or industrial context. An understanding of appropriate regulations and legislation relevant to mine closure.

Note:

Failure to provide Sasol with truthful information and valid documents will render your application null and void. The Sasol Group / Sasol Mining will never request you to make any cash deposits/payments as part of the recruitment process.