Hermias van der Westhuizen - Group Operations Manager
Hermias started his career with Africoal as site manager for the Pit D, New Largo project before being appointed as Group Operations Manager. His mining career started in the hardrock underground mining environment at Evander Gold Mines. He was with Sasol Collieries during the revitalize renewal process and at Aquarius platinum mine before starting his opencast career in 2009 with Genet Mining on a large Glencore operation. He has obtained blasting tickets for underground fiery mines, scheduled mines, opencast mines and mine overseer certificate of competency for metalliferous mines.
With 34 years in mining, he has vast experience in gold, platinum and coal underground and opencast mining production processes. At Sasol Collieries, experience was gained on development of the individual and production processes, revitalise renewal systems, behavioral health and safety, coaching and facilitation, process and phase training, basic project management. At Genet mining he fulfill the role as project manager on a large mining project by liaising with the client, do monthly planning and oversee execution of mining activities. During his underground career, he was part of the Proto rescue teams as a member, team captain and later proto manager. The highlight of his career was to be part of a project with an average monthly production rate of 1 600 000bcm for a 5 year period. As a seasoned miner his passion is to analyze mining processes and to introduce improvement strategies.