Technical team

Gavin Andrews

Pr Sci Nat
MSc (Exploration Geology), MSEG, MGSSA

Senior Technical Advisor

More than 26 years’ experience, working in various geological environments including offshore oil in West Africa; greenstone gold, epithermal gold and porphyry gold in Africa, South America and Madagascar; greenstone-hosted platinum in South Africa; coal in Mozambique and South Africa.

Profile

Mark Stewardson

Pr Sci Nat
BSc (Hons Geology), MSEG

Senior Technical Advisor

More than 43 years’ experience in coal geology, exploration and mining, with extensive work experience in most major coalfields of southern Africa, Indonesia and Australia.

Profile

Lynne Soulsby

BA (Hons) (Sociology)

Senior Technical Advisor

More than 15 years’ service with TMC and specialising in legal and sustainability issues in the mining sector.

Profile

Bea de Munnik

Survey Draughting Certificate

GIS and graphics specialist

A specialist in GIS and drafting.

Profile

Efet Banda

Pr Sci Nat
BSc (Geology), MGSSA, MGSZ, GDE (Mining Engineering)

Senior Technical Advisor

More than 19 years’ experience in mining, exploration, resource evaluation and geotechnical engineering in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Armenia and Georgia; performed the geotechnical functions for the Gautrain Project.

Profile

Jonathan Buckley

Pr Eng
BSc (Hons) Mining Engineering, MSc (Petroleum Engineering), FSAIMM

Senior Technical Advisor

More than 30 years’ experience in mine management, mine project management and consulting.

Profile

Herman Lombard

Pr Eng
BSc Mining Engineering, FSAIMM

Senior Technical Advisor

Career spanning more than 40 years in underground mine management and mining engineering consulting.

Profile

Julia van Biljon-Heidemann

Pr Sci Nat
BSc (Hons) (Mineral Economics), MDP, BCom, FGSSA

Senior Technical Advisor

More than 30 years’ experience in investment banking (mergers and acquisitions, valuation, equity capital raising and advisory mandates, mainly for mining clients);....

Profile

Exploration services and management

We provide effective and efficient management of your exploration-related tasks, using the most appropriate remote sensing or terrestrial geological, geochemical or geophysical exploration tools. We use exploration management protocols that withstand third party scrutiny and permit the compilation of technical reports that comply with international resource reporting codes (SAMREC, JORC, CIM). As part of exploration management services, we provide strategic advice on project development and value addition strategies informed by an understanding of the strategic, technical, legal and logistical challenges encountered by mineral project developers in various jurisdictions.

Geological modelling and mineral resource evaluation

We provide accurate and successful project evaluation founded on a sound understanding of the geology, mineral economics, mining and industry best practice resource evaluation approaches. We manage the Mineral Resource evaluation process including data processing, interpretation and evaluation; conceptual geological analysis; orebody modelling and Mineral Resource classification as well as Competent Person sign-off in terms of the international protocols (CIM, JORC, SAMREC).

Mineral resource and reserve audits

Mineral resource and reserve audits: We provide risk-based technical and governance audits of Mineral Resource and Reserve statements accompanying annual reports for listed companies. For the execution of these tasks, our Competent Persons for mineral resources and reserves utilise a combination of in-depth technical, management and board experience as well as a solid understanding of the reporting codes and stock exchange reporting requirements. Our audit findings and recommendations provide board members with the requisite line of sight of the overall preparation of Mineral Resource and Reserve statements.

Public reporting

We have a proven track record of preparing independent competent person’s reports in support of corporate activities such as stock exchange listings, mergers and acquisitions or material changes to business and life of mine plans for mineral projects. In the preparation of public reports, we strive to protect the investor and project owners by diligently forming an understanding of the project key value drivers, developmental opportunities and identifying material risks to the achievability of business plans.

Technical reviews and advisory

A solid understanding of the project development cycle, key project value drivers and the minerals industry value chain allows our team to provide bespoke corporate advisory services which include technical due diligence reviews, independent technical reviews and tailored technical advice. Knowing that each project possesses unique attributes and challenges, our technical advisory approach is premised on collaboration with project owner. The collaborative efforts often produce practical and realistic solutions to challenges confronting the project owners.

Independent reviews of scoping, prefeasibility and feasibility studies

Independent reviews of scoping, prefeasibility and feasibility studies: We undertake independent reviews of scoping, prefeasibility and feasibility studies of mineral projects premised on our deep understanding of the complexities and opportunities of these projects. Our unique combination of geological, mining, metallurgical, infrastructure engineering, sustainability and financial capabilities positions us well to provide practical, insightful advice. These capabilities provide our team with the flexibility to execute the techno-economic studies, act as the owner’s technical representative or review findings of the studies.

Mineral asset valuation and financial modelling

Our team has comprehensive financial modelling and valuation capabilities for any aspect or stage of mining projects. With wide-ranging knowledge of mineral projects and challenges that face prospective investors, the team has carried out mineral asset valuations according to SAMVAL and VALMIN as well as financial modelling for mining projects throughout the world.

Sustainability management

Diverse technical skills and experience place our technical team in a favourable position to guide our clients with the management of sustainability issues confronting their projects. Our team has a successful track record of converting and applying for prospecting and mining rights for various commodities, preparing social and labour plans and environmental management plans. Our in-depth knowledge of the legal, social and environmental aspects of mineral projects provide the foundation for developing title, social and environmental management strategies and plans that conform to industry best practice and international norms.

Due diligence reviews and asset valuation

We have a proven record of assisting potential investors by providing due diligence support and technical advice to inform investment or mergers and acquisition decisions in the mining industry. We employ a unique structured approach for completing these assignments, which combines high speed of execution and accurate risk/opportunity assessment (high-level or fatal flaw review) and detailed reviews. This industry leading approach to technical due diligence reviews is anchored by an enhanced understanding of the project development cycle and key project value as well as our financial modelling capability.

Competent Person’s Report preparation

We are adept at preparing independent competent person’s reports for single or multiple operations in support of corporate activities such as stock exchange listings, mergers and acquisitions or material changes to business and life of mine plans for mineral projects. Our track record is testimony to a solid grounding in technical aspects of mineral projects and the understanding of the reporting codes and stock exchange reporting requirements by technical experts and competent persons.

Owner’s technical team representative

Our in-house team of experts possesses distinctive advisory capabilities in the geological, mining, metallurgical, infrastructure engineering and financial modelling disciplines as well as leadership capabilities required to act as owner’s technical team during and after acquisitions and post-acquisition feasibility studies. We have acted as the owner’s representative for new investors subsequent to acquisition and during the time of building internal capabilities or for organisations that have technical skills gaps.

Mineral/commodity advisory

A wide geographic footprint and vast commodity experience position our team superbly for assessing jurisdictions and commodities for investment. The team uses diverse experience, strong research capabilities and understanding of global trends in the mining sector for undertaking country risk profiling, mineral target identification and commodity selection.

Due diligence reviews

Our experience with the undertaking due diligence reviews for project owners and investors in support of investment or mergers and acquisition decisions places us in an enviable position to assist deal financiers and other lenders prior to the approval of funding of mineral projects. Using our extensive knowledge of mining project funding models, we assist diverse lenders by providing appropriate due diligence support and technical advice to inform their funding decisions. A structured approach for completing technical due diligence reviews of mineral projects, which combines high speed of execution and accurate assessment, is employed for the execution of these assignments. Our technical and cash flow/financial modelling capabilities allow us to provide a holistic view to the targeted mineral project.

Lender’s team technical representative

We assist lenders by acting as independent technical experts/engineers or lender’s engineer. Our in-house team provides a wide spectrum of technical competencies in cross functional mining disciplines (i.e. geology, mining, metallurgy, infrastructure engineering, sustainability and financial engineering). These competencies enable us to act as independent technical experts/engineers or lender’s engineer. We are also proficient at lender’s engineer monitoring of mining projects subsequent to funding as well as reviewing loan repayments and mine planning for pre-existing investments.

Loan/equity independent mineral asset support evaluation

Our comprehensive financial modelling and valuation services provide the requisite support for capital structure decision making and mineral asset valuations. Our independent asset valuations are invaluable for benchmarking with internal valuations prepared by lenders.

Bespoke technical support

We partner with mining service providers such as EPCM companies by providing tailored technical support mainly in the areas of geological and mineral resource modelling, mine planning, cash flow modelling and economic evaluation support for feasibility studies.

Independent reviews of feasibility studies

In addition to participating in feasibility studies, we undertake independent reviews of completed feasibility studies prior to approval by the project owners or EPM companies. This essential step ensures completeness of the study, alternative views on risk assessment and mitigation by EPM companies and endorsement of the overall study findings for governance.

IN THIS SECTION

Who we are
Our people
Our footprint
Our commodity experience

John Murphy

Pr Sci Nat
BSc (Hons) (Engineering Geology), MBA, FGSSA

Managing director, owner

More than 27 years’ experience in base, precious, bulk and energy minerals exploration, mining and techno-economic assessment in Africa.

Services

economic geology
mineral economics
corporate advisory
due diligence reviews and fatal flaw analyses of projects and mining operations
mineral asset valuation
expert witness testimony
public reporting
mineral exploration strategy and management

Commodities

base and precious metals
industrial minerals
coal
chrome
manganese
iron ore
uranium

Focus

technical advice, mineral economics and valuation
technical due diligence of mine and exploration data
mineral asset valuation and financial modelling
country and commodity reviews
Competent Persons’ Reports
Competent Valuators’ Reports

Coniace Madamombe

Pr Sci Nat
MSc (Exploration Geology), MBA, FGSSA

Director, owner

More than 15 years’ operational and consulting experience in mineral exploration, mining geology, project techno-economic appraisal and reviews in Africa.

Services

strategic exploration management
mine geology and Mineral Resource Management
geological and resource modelling
country and commodity reviews
project techno-economic evaluation
technical reviews and governance audits of mineral resources and mineral reserves
due diligence reviews and fatal flaw analyses of projects and mining operations
independent technical/lender’s expert reviews of projects and mining operations

Commodities

gold
platinum group metals
iron ore
nickel
chrome
copper
manganese
lead
zinc
uranium
bauxite
limestone

Focus

strategic exploration management
target selection, identification and appraisal
techno-economic assessment of mineral projects
country risk profiling and commodity reviews
mineral resource evaluation
mine geology and Mineral Resource Management
technical and Competent Persons' Reports
technical reviews and governance audits of mineral resources and mineral reserves
due diligence reviews and fatal flaw analyses of projects and mining operations
independent technical/lender’s expert reviews of projects and mining operations

Stewart Nupen

Pr Sci Nat
BSc (Hons), GDE, MBA, FGSSA

Director, owner

More than 20 years’ operational and consulting experience, including experience as a geologist with AngloGold Ashanti and then in mining software sales, training and implementation (GEOVIA GEMS™; GEOVIA Whittle™) with Gemcom Software (now GEOVIA).

Services

geology
project evaluation
resource modelling
mineral resource evaluation
mine geology and Mineral Resource Management
technical and Competent Persons' Reports
technical reviews and governance audits of mineral resources and mineral reserves
due diligence reviews and fatal flaw analyses of projects and mining operations

Commodities

gold
platinum group metals
manganese
iron ore
bauxite
chrome
lithium
uranium

Focus

geological and mineral resource consulting for project development
geological modelling and mineral resource evaluation
Competent Persons' Reports
co-ordination: independent mineral resource and mineral reserve audits
SAMREC and CIM compliance reports: gold, platinum, uranium, manganese, iron ore
mine geology and Mineral Resource Management
due diligence reviews and fatal flaw analyses of projects and mining operations

Russell Heins

BSc (Hons) Minerals Engineering, FSAIMM, MIMMM
Registered Chartered Engineer

Director, owner

More than 32 years’ technical, managerial and business development experience in the international mining industry.

Services

Metallurgy
Process and infrastructural engineering
due diligence reviews and fatal flaw analyses of projects and mining operations
independent technical/lender’s expert reviews of projects and mining operations

Commodities

precious and base metals
rare earths
industrial minerals
tantalite
manganese
chrome
ilmenite
uranium

Focus

Refinery operations and management
Plant design, optimisation and troubleshooting
Product quality control
Hydrometallurgical and chemical processing of a wide variety of ores
Health, safety and environmental management
Due diligence and fatal flaw reviews
Scoping and feasibility study contributions
Small business development and management

Andrew Hart

CA (SA)
Member, South African Institute of Chartered Accountants

Director, owner

TMC finance director since 2007; previously financial manager from 2002.

Services

mineral asset valuation
financial modelling

Focus

corporate strategic advice
commercial negotiations
due diligence reviews
financial valuation models – preparation, auditing, supervision

Keith Wilson

BSc Engineering (Mechanical)
MSAIMM, CertEng (Mine & Works)

Director

More than 27 years’ technical, managerial and consulting experience within the mining industry

Services

Engineering and Infrastructure
Conceptual, Pre-feasibility to Feasibility Studies and Due Diligence Studies
Independent Technical/Lender’s Expert reviews of projects and mining operations

Commodities

gold
diamonds
platinum group metals
iron ore
manganese
chrome
coal
base metals

Focus

technical study co-ordination and management
due diligence and lenders technical advisor
infrastructure assessments
mining equipment selection
open pit simulation modelling and costing
capital and operating costs scheduling
life cycle cost (LCC) modelling
legal and safety compliance assessments

Gavin Andrews

Pr Sci Nat
MSc (Exploration Geology), MSEG, MGSSA

Senior Technical Advisor

More than 26 years' experience, working in various geological environments including offshore oil in West Africa; greenstone gold, epithermal gold and porphyry gold in Africa, South America and Madagascar; greenstone-hosted platinum in South Africa; coal in Mozambique and South Africa.

Services

exploration management
coal project evaluation services

Focus

exploration management
evaluation of coal deposits and resources
due diligence studies
technical and Competent Persons' Reports

Mark Stewardson

Pr Sci Nat
BSc (Hons Geology), MSEG

Senior Technical Advisor

More than 43 years’ experience in coal geology, exploration and mining, with extensive work experience in most major coalfields of southern Africa, Indonesia and Australia.

Services

exploration management
coal project evaluation services
coal resource and reserve estimation

Focus

exploration management
evaluation of coal deposits and resources
due diligence studies
technical and Competent Persons' Reports

Lynne Soulsby

BA (Hons) (Sociology)

Senior Technical Advisor

More than 15 years’ service with TMC and specialising in legal and sustainability issues in the mining sector.

Services

mineral tenure
social and labour planning

Focus

Social and Labour Plan generation
socio-economic impact studies
assistance with the formulation, compilation and project administration of prospecting and mining right applications and conversions in accordance with MPRDA

Bea de Munnik

Survey Draughting Certificate

GIS and graphics specialist

A specialist in GIS and drafting.

Services:

GIS
drafting

Focus

computer graphics
Geographic Information Systems (ArcGIS)
survey draughting

Darren Portela

Pr Sci Nat
BSc (Hons), MGSSA

Director, owner

More than 10 years’ involvement in chrome, coal, iron ore, manganese, tin, vanadium, gold and bauxite exploration in Africa for TMC.

Services

exploration management
deposit evaluation
resource modelling and evaluation
technical and Competent Persons' Reports compilation
technical reviews and governance audits of mineral resources and mineral reserves
due diligence reviews and fatal flaw analyses of projects and mining operations

Focus

exploration management
preparation of technical databases and technical advice
interpretation and analysis of mineral and structural project data
commodity reviews
assistance in JORC, SAMREC and CIM compliance reporting

Efet Banda

Pr Sci Nat
BSc (Geology), MGSSA, MGSZ, GDE (Mining Engineering)

Senior Technical Advisor

Services

exploration management
geostatistical and resource modelling of metalliferous and industrial minerals deposits
resource of coal deposits
technical and Competent Persons' Reports compilation

Focus

underground mine production
civil works geotechnical investigations
geo-modelling (GEOVIA Minex™; Datamine Studio™)
Competent Person's Report compilation
mineral resource evaluation and modelling
underground and open cast mining production control
mining and civil works geotechnical mapping

Jonathan Buckley

Pr Eng
BSc (Hons) Mining Engineering, MSc (Petroleum Engineering), FSAIMM

Senior Technical Advisor

More than 30 years’ experience in mine management, mine project management and consulting.

Services

short-medium term and strategic mine planning
reserve estimation
project techno-economic evaluation
technical reviews and governance audits of mineral reserves
due diligence reviews and fatal flaw analyses of projects and mining operations
independent technical/lender’s expert reviews of projects and mining operations

Focus

technical research
prefeasibility/feasibility studies
mining assessments
scoping studies
fatal flaw analyses
due diligence studies
techno-economic design
mine design
benchmarking exercises
construction of costing models

Julia van Biljon-Heidemann

Pr Sci Nat
BSc (Hons) (Mineral Economics), MDP, BCom, FGSSA

Senior Technical Advisor

More than 30 years’ experience in investment banking (mergers and acquisitions, valuation, equity capital raising and advisory mandates, mainly for mining clients); also, for a South African mining major, responsible for valuations of base metal, coal and gold operations; in-depth exposure to major feasibility stage and operating projects, varied in terms of commodity, project stage, technical constraints, project location (affecting fiscal and logistical aspects), ownership and financing models.

Services

mineral asset valuation
financial modelling

Focus

valuations of mineral properties and mineral processing operations
techno-economic and financial models
mineral property holding company valuations
financial advisory

Herman Lombard

Pr Eng
BSc Mining Engineering, FSAIMM

Senior Technical Advisor

Career spanning more than 40 years in underground mine management and mining engineering consulting.

Services

short-medium term and strategic mine planning
Mineral Reserve estimation
project techno-economic evaluation
technical reviews and governance audits of Mineral Reserves
due diligence reviews and fatal flaw analyses of projects and mining operations

Focus

mine design and planning
Mineral Reserve estimation and audits
feasibility studies
mining assessments

About us

Technical team

Gavin Andrews

Senior Technical Advisor

Mark Stewardson

Senior Technical Advisor

Lynne Soulsby

Senior Technical Advisor

Bea de Munnik

GIS and graphics specialist

Efet Banda

Senior Technical Advisor

Jonathan Buckley

Senior Technical Advisor

Herman Lombard

Senior Technical Advisor

Julia van Biljon-Heidemann

Senior Technical Advisor

IN THIS SECTION

WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU

About us

Technical team

Gavin Andrews

Senior Technical Advisor

Mark Stewardson

Senior Technical Advisor

Lynne Soulsby

Senior Technical Advisor

Bea de Munnik

GIS and graphics specialist

Efet Banda

Senior Technical Advisor

Jonathan Buckley

Senior Technical Advisor

Herman Lombard

Senior Technical Advisor

Julia van Biljon-Heidemann

Senior Technical Advisor

Exploration services and management

Geological modelling and mineral resource evaluation

Mineral resource and reserve audits

Public reporting

Technical reviews and advisory

Independent reviews of scoping, prefeasibility and feasibility studies

Mineral asset valuation and financial modelling

Sustainability management

Due diligence reviews and asset valuation

Competent Person’s Report preparation

Owner’s technical team representative

Mineral/commodity advisory

Due diligence reviews

Lender’s team technical representative

Loan/equity independent mineral asset support evaluation

Bespoke technical support

Independent reviews of feasibility studies

IN THIS SECTION

WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU

Owner/seller

Investor

Financier

Service provider

John Murphy

Managing director, owner

Coniace Madamombe

Director, owner

Stewart Nupen

Director, owner

Russell Heins

Director, owner

Andrew Hart

Director, owner

Keith Wilson

Director

Gavin Andrews

Senior Technical Advisor

Mark Stewardson

Senior Technical Advisor

Lynne Soulsby

Senior Technical Advisor

Bea de Munnik

GIS and graphics specialist

Darren Portela

Director, owner

Efet Banda

Senior Technical Advisor

Jonathan Buckley

Senior Technical Advisor

Julia van Biljon-Heidemann

Senior Technical Advisor

Herman Lombard

Senior Technical Advisor