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Rebuilding the Lost Mineral Process Engineering
Competency Base
R.A. Seitz, D. Drinkwater, J.J. Cilliers
Metcelerate
ABSTRACT: There has been much discussion about the loss of professional capability in the mined natural
resources sector over the past few decades. However, little of this has focused on specifics and much has focused
on the non-technical component. Any assumption that details of this loss are understood and agreed on is
flawed. In the distant past, process engineer development relied on university transfer of a base level of technical
knowledge followed by skills development and additional technical knowledge transfer from more experienced
engineers. Both of these modes have been significantly disrupted since the 1990s.
This paper focuses on the critical technical role played by process engineers in ensuring the processing plant
meets performance targets and that plant capability is improved. These roles include direct involvement with 24
X 7 process management and problem solving for the plant.
What are the competencies that process engineers require in order to maximize value generation from the pro-
cessing plant? This paper identifies these competencies as Process Management and Problem Solving. This was
the result of identifying mineral processing-dependent Essential Functions that must be performed to ensure
performance targets are met. The tasks and tools required to perform these Essential Functions were identified
and grouped to describe these competencies. Knowledge, Skills and Motivation are the attributes making up
competencies and details of these are discussed. The necessary capabilities of process engineers supporting pro-
cessing plants fall on a continuum of increasing expectation. Individuals and companies can plan for personal
and group development based on an understanding of these competencies. Alternative paths to supporting
development through knowledge transfer and development of specific skills are discussed.
THE PROBLEM
The difficulty in providing mineral processing and extrac-
tive metallurgy (MP/EM) technical support for operations
due to the lack of MP/EM engineers, and the resulting lost
value creation has been discussed within the mining com-
munity since the 1990s and earlier (Read, 1941). More
recently, furor around critical minerals and metals to sup-
port a potential energy transition has brought the prob-
lem to a broader audience (for example, Abenov et al.,
2023). Only time will tell if decisive responses are taken
to ameliorate the problem. Decades of discussion and lack
of adequate response leave room for skepticism. The issue
will certainly continue to grow in the absence of significant
response.
Much of this discussion is at a level that does not easily
translate to individual competency expectations. Abenov et
al (2023) observed that, “talent is increasingly being elevated
from a simple enabler to a true value driver. … can enhance
Rebuilding the Lost Mineral Process Engineering
Competency Base
R.A. Seitz, D. Drinkwater, J.J. Cilliers
Metcelerate
ABSTRACT: There has been much discussion about the loss of professional capability in the mined natural
resources sector over the past few decades. However, little of this has focused on specifics and much has focused
on the non-technical component. Any assumption that details of this loss are understood and agreed on is
flawed. In the distant past, process engineer development relied on university transfer of a base level of technical
knowledge followed by skills development and additional technical knowledge transfer from more experienced
engineers. Both of these modes have been significantly disrupted since the 1990s.
This paper focuses on the critical technical role played by process engineers in ensuring the processing plant
meets performance targets and that plant capability is improved. These roles include direct involvement with 24
X 7 process management and problem solving for the plant.
What are the competencies that process engineers require in order to maximize value generation from the pro-
cessing plant? This paper identifies these competencies as Process Management and Problem Solving. This was
the result of identifying mineral processing-dependent Essential Functions that must be performed to ensure
performance targets are met. The tasks and tools required to perform these Essential Functions were identified
and grouped to describe these competencies. Knowledge, Skills and Motivation are the attributes making up
competencies and details of these are discussed. The necessary capabilities of process engineers supporting pro-
cessing plants fall on a continuum of increasing expectation. Individuals and companies can plan for personal
and group development based on an understanding of these competencies. Alternative paths to supporting
development through knowledge transfer and development of specific skills are discussed.
THE PROBLEM
The difficulty in providing mineral processing and extrac-
tive metallurgy (MP/EM) technical support for operations
due to the lack of MP/EM engineers, and the resulting lost
value creation has been discussed within the mining com-
munity since the 1990s and earlier (Read, 1941). More
recently, furor around critical minerals and metals to sup-
port a potential energy transition has brought the prob-
lem to a broader audience (for example, Abenov et al.,
2023). Only time will tell if decisive responses are taken
to ameliorate the problem. Decades of discussion and lack
of adequate response leave room for skepticism. The issue
will certainly continue to grow in the absence of significant
response.
Much of this discussion is at a level that does not easily
translate to individual competency expectations. Abenov et
al (2023) observed that, “talent is increasingly being elevated
from a simple enabler to a true value driver. … can enhance