SAQA

All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Occupational Certificate: Mining Technician (Mine Planning Practitioner)

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
98929	Occupational Certificate: Mining Technician (Mine Planning Practitioner)
ORIGINATOR
Development Quality Partner - MQA
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-			OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Occupational Certificate	Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology		Engineering and Related Design
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	248	Not Applicable	NQF Level 04	Regular-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		SAQA 06120/18	2018-07-01	2023-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30		2027-06-30

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Mining Technician (Mine Planning Practitioner).
A Mine Planning Practitioner develops and schedules the exploitation of a mineral body to convert the mineral resource into mineral reserves for the safe and profitable extraction of the minerals in line with given organisational strategies.

A qualified learner will be able to:

Produce short and medium term Mineral Extraction layouts and production schedules including resource and equipment requirements for the mining of various mining commodities.

Prepare and collate information to determine the risks associated with the execution of the short and medium term mining plans.

Rationale:
This curriculum is targeted for Mine Planning Practitioners. The role of the Planning Practitioner is an ever-changing one. Most mines fill this position using production staff or staff from other technical services disciplines. The role is becoming ever more specialised and the various associations have long ago identified the need for a national qualification that will assist with the professionalisation of this role. The need for this qualification was raised by industry as there is currently no recognised national standard for this occupation.

The following was considered:

South Africa is experiencing a shortage of mining engineers and mine planning staff. This has been the case for many years and traditionally this vacuum was filled by placing mining production people with experience into these roles.

Currently gold and platinum companies alone identified the need for 166 mine planners. The expectation is a grand total of 246. If they are released on a 15% per annum basis, this means 37 per annum. New entrants and refreshers, will make this 45 per annum.

The problem with that is that, in most cases these individuals do not have the expertise and knowledge to execute the work, they might have the production experience but they lack the planning and computer skills required to execute the requirements of the job with the result that work is then passed on to higher levels of management. If people with the computer and planning abilities are found; they lack the production experience and know-how. The result of all of this is that it takes a long time to develop people on the job and if people leave the company the replacement time is unacceptably high.

This problem is now being exacerbated by the fact that the nature of mining is changing. The continued move to mechanisation increases the need for effective short, medium and long term planning. The industry now needs a well-structured qualification at this level to fast track mine employees and people new to the industry into positions where they can execute the fundamental planning activities associated with short and medium term planning and then engage in higher education programmes to fill the long term planning positions.

The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM) set up a steering group to work on training and development processes for this level of employee. The results of the work of that steering group are reflected in this qualification. This group was used as the community of expert practice and they are continually referred back to their industry constituencies to verify and validate the proposed contents.

All mines require planning practitioners that must ensure that the mine planning documents and processes comply with the relevant legal requirements; traditionally this work was performed by production staff. This qualification will assist in creating a new career path for new entrants to the industry.

Effective mine planning impacts on the implementation of social and labour plans and the effective implementation of this qualification will lead to a more productive use of mine resources. In the long term it will contribute to the sustainability of the mining industry.

It is an entry occupation to a career in mine planning. This gives promotional opportunities to current mine employees and it provides a career path for new entrants into the industry. Without this qualification it is very difficult to bring new industry entrants into the planning function. It opens up opportunities for school leavers that did not exist previously.

This qualification will assist in the formalising of the requirements for this very important occupation. There will be ample opportunity for RPL for mine employees and this will allow new industry entrants to be fast tracked to a productive career.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
RPL for access to the external integrated summative assessment: Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result or certifying a work experience record.

RPL for access to the qualification: Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements.

Entry Requirements:

At NQF 3 with Mathematical Literacy.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification is made up of the following compulsory Knowledge and Practical Skill Modules:
Knowledge Modules:

311701010-KM-01, Introduction to Mine Planning, at NQF Level 3, 40 Credits.

311701010-KM-02, Mineral Resource Management (01), at NQF Level 4, 38 Credits.

311701010-KM-03, Mining Engineering and Technical Services Practice (01), at NQF Level 4, 13 Credits.

311701010-KM-04, Operations Management and Supervision (01), at NQF Level 4, 6 Credits.
Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 97.

Practical Skill Modules:

311701010-PM-01, Assist with the production of short and medium term Mineral Extraction layouts and production schedules including resource and equipment requirements for mining final products, NQF Level 3, 34 Credits.

311701010-PM-02, Update mining layouts and schedule the required resources to achieve the production rates, at NQF Level 4, 20 Credits.

311701010-PM-03, Coordinate Mine Planning meetings, at NQF Level 4, Credits 10 Credits.

311701010-PM-04, Make inputs into a process to determine the possible risks in executing mine, at NQF Level 4, 7 Credits.
Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 71.

This qualification also requires the following Work Experience Modules:

311701010-WM-01, Exposure to the mining value chain, at NQF Level 3, 32 Credits.

311701010-WM-02, Exposure to the short and medium term mine planning processes, at NQF Level 4, 32 Credits.

311701010-WM-03, Exposure to the mining risk assessment processes, at NQF Level 4, 16 Credits.
Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 80.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Produce short and medium term Mineral Extraction Layouts and production schedules manually and using electronic planning tools in accordance with a range of mine planning standards.
2. Prepare and collate information to determine the risks associated with the execution of the short and medium term mining plans.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

Geological principles are explained and the key geological terms are described to illustrate the impact of geological features on the mineral deposits in underground hardrock mines.

Surveying processes are defined and the purpose of taking measurements in mines are clarified in terms of the generally accepted mining standards and principles.

Relevant definitions and the international standards associated with the mine planning processes are defined and clarified.

Survey information is plotted on mine plans and all the required calculations are made accurately to check and verify the survey data.

Errors on mine plans and designs are identified and the appropriate alterations to the mine plans are made.

Integrated mine planning is described and examples are given of how this concept applies to various mining scenarios.

The most appropriate mining methods to extract the resource are identified and the implications of the various mining methods on mine planning is described.

Mineral extraction layouts are produced according to the internationally accepted mine planning standards.

Production schedules are produced manually and electronically to ensure achievement of set production targets and time lines.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

The relationships between foot-wall, hanging-wall and the mineral deposits are explained and the implication of the various situations on the processes of developing mine plans are clarified.

Relevant legal authorisations and permits are identified and evaluated and all the relevant risks and mitigating actions are identified.

Processes for obtaining the required legal authorisations and permits are described.

The current and potential future profitability of the mine is described in relation to the prevailing mining conditions and environmental determinates, actions that will mitigate the risks to the sustainability of the mine are identified.

Production volumes tonnes produced, face advance and distances are calculated using the mine plan.

Section plans are updated using the given production information to determine production performance.

Geological conditions: (The mine and geological plans are interpreted and the implications described relevant to the specific working area in terms of safety and production).

A template based risk report is compiled using all relevant information from various mine plans and operating performance of the mine.

Integrated Assessment:
Integrated formative assessment:
The skills development providers will use the curriculum to guide them on the stipulated internal assessments and weighting. They will also apply the scope of practical skills and the applied knowledge as stipulated in the curriculum. This formative assessment leads to entrance into the integrated external summative assessment.

Integrated summative assessment:
An external integrated summative assessment, conducted through the relevant Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) Assessment Quality partner is required for the issuing of this qualification. The external integrated summative assessment will focus on the exit level outcomes and associated assessment criteria. The final integrated summative assessment will be conducted by means of a written assessment combined with the evaluation of completed work tasks. Learners for this qualification will complete a two hour theoretical assessment. The assessor will also evaluate the accuracy of the captured and plotted data on the relevant mine planning system.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

An extensive search was done regarding comparable qualifications internationally There are no comparable qualifications internationally. Other mining countries struggle with the same problem as we have in the Republic of South Africa (RSA). This will be a leading practice regarding planning qualifications. Discussions regarding similar qualifications are taking place in Australia and in India.

Despite the lack of directly comparable qualifications internationally, the qualification is directly occupationally based and will meet a specific need in the industry and is therefore deemed a valuable and relevant qualification.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Horizontal articulation is possible to:

Further Education and Training Certificate in Strata Control Operations, NQF Level 4.

Occupational Certificate: Mining Technician (Strata Control Practitioner in Underground Hardrock), NQF Level 4.

Occupational Certificate: Mining Technician ( Mining Surveyor), NQF Level 4.

Vertical Articulation is possible to:

National Certificate in Environmental Management, NQF Level 5.

MODERATION OPTIONS

N/A

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

N/A

NOTES

Qualifying for external assessment:
In order to qualify for an external assessment, learners must provide proof of completion of all required standards by means of statements of results and work experience including the Foundational Learning Competence.

Additional legal or physical entry requirements:
Comply with the Mining Industry medical fitness requirements for working in an underground mine.
Criteria for the accreditation of providers.
Accreditation of providers will be done against the criteria as reflected in the relevant curriculum on the QCTO website.
The curriculum title and code is: 311701010: Mining Technician (Mine Planning Practitioner).

This qualification encompasses the following trades as recorded on the NLRD:

This is not a trade.

Part Qualifications:

None

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

NONE

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION:

This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.

NONE