To celebrate international Women in Engineering Day (23 June), University of Pretoria (UP) alumna Nozipho Dlamini shares her view on the exciting role women can play in the mining industry.

Dlamini was the first woman President of the South African Colliery Managers’ Association (SACMA) in 2022 and is a member of the University’s Mining Engineering Advisory Board.

She has been in the coal mining industry for more than 15 years and holds the position of Technical Services Manager at Thungela Resources’ Greenside Colliery. She graduated from UP with a BEng (Mining Engineering) degree in 2007, followed by an honours degree in Technology Management and a Master in Technology Management degree from the Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM) in the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology.

She considers mining engineering to be an excellent career choice for women in today’s world. “There’s a big demand for women in core technical roles in mining, and I believe women are best suited for these roles. Mining will continue to grow, even in the green economy.” South Africa has many mineral resources, including the “green metals” and minerals needed for the just energy transition. “If it is not grown,” she says, “it is mined!”

Dlamini believes that for South Africa to thrive in the future, it must embrace critical minerals, fund research, attract investment and ensure that the human capital is developed to work on the mine of the future. “Government will need to step in to make mining an attractive investment opportunity for global markets. The regulatory space needs to be simplified to ensure funding for mining projects.”

Her role as Technical Services Manager entails leading a team of mine planning engineers, rock engineers, surveyors, geologists, ventilation occupational hygiene and engineering professionals, business improvement specialists, environmentalists and safety officers. “A typical day in my life is very dynamic. I deal with challenges and solve problems in all the aspects related to the operation of a mine,” she says. “My workday normally starts at 07:00, and I often have meetings throughout the day related to the technical support my team gives the mine and strategic sessions with the leadership team and the corporate office. I enjoy days when I go into the field and interact with the operators underground, in our plants, or at our rapid-loading train terminal.”

What she loves most about her job is the variety of issues she deals with on a daily basis, but also seeing how all these different technical specialities work in synergy to support a highly productive mine. “My role allows me to participate in all aspects of the business, like budgeting, life-of-mine planning, assurance, finance management, mine closure, community and social issues, and even regulatory applications and roll-outs.”

In her professional capacity, she is ready to progress into an executive role in mining as she has acquired the technical skills, business acumen and strategic know-how to run a mine and department at the group level. “I recently concluded a programme on Sustainability and Business Impact at Yale University in the USA, and on Climate Change at the University of Cambridge in the UK.” She sees herself running a mining company that truly embodies the responsible stewardship of the country’s mineral resources, and that makes a lasting positive impact in the communities in which it operates. On a personal level, she hopes to be able to spend more time travelling with her family.

She has the following words of advice for prospective students who are considering a career in mining: “Go for it!” She considers it an exciting and challenging career that is gratifying at the same time. “I would encourage youngsters to embrace innovation, data science and technology, as these are the key drivers of the mine of the future.” She admits that the first few years will be hard, “and there will be a lot of literal sweat, as well as a tear or two, but these are the best years to grow your technical skills, experience and credibility.”

She also recommends getting a mentor to support and guide you through your career, to develop yourself and to never stop learning. Her final tip for prospective female mining engineers who wish to follow in her footsteps is to cultivate strong networks. This will pave your way to success.