Experience

Laone Mining

• South Africa
• Mining
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Managing Director

  • Jan 2018 - Present

  Thapelo is a founding partner and a Managing Director of Laone Mining and Engineering. He is a registered Professional Engineer (Pr. Eng) with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA). He has extensive experience in the Mining, Metals and Engineering, Petrochemical, power generation, FMCG and Raise Boring drilling space having served on the private, engineering consulting and parastatal enterprises with a career spanning over 14 years in the industry. Thapelo has held various leadership and management positions in multibillion-rand enterprises with great stature (i.e. Anglo American, SAB Miller Limited, Sasol Eskom, Atlantis, etc.) where he occupied roles including Chief Mechanical Engineer, Chief Operating Officer, etc. Thapelo has also served as a Board Member in the capacity of an Executive Director in an international Raise Boring Drilling Company called Atlantis Group of Companies and was appointed Chief Operating Officer responsible for group operations, technical, finance, marketing and human resources divisions. He later served as the Acting CEO of the same company until August 2018 to focus his energies on Laone Mining and Engineering. Show less



Atlantis Group of Companies (Pty) Ltd

• Group Chief Executive Director

  • Jun 2017 - Jul 2018

  Appointed to the Board in 2017. Thapelo Mothibinyane working career started in the mining industry in 2004 when he was employed as a Mechanical Engineer at Anglo American Corporation. He is registered as a Professional Engineer and completed his Masters in Engineering Management with the University of Pretoria. He received his BSc degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Cape Town. Thapelo is a Shareholder and Executive Director of Atlantis Group of Companies. Atlantis Group of Companies is an international diversified mining contracting company that specializes in Raise Boring Drilling, Hydraulics, Manufacturing (OEM of TMMs), General Engineering and Fabrication. Show less



Laone Consulting Engineers

• Australia

• Managing Director

  • Nov 2015 - Jun 2016

  • Formulation of company direction and strategy • Organizing the Project Management, Asset Management, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Operations • Responsible for all aspects of the technical and engineering operations • Developing strategy & mission and carrying it through with confidence & vigour • Responsible for all aspects of human performance issues • Working on full development lifecycle projects • Formulation of company direction and strategy • Organizing the Project Management, Asset Management, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Operations • Responsible for all aspects of the technical and engineering operations • Developing strategy & mission and carrying it through with confidence & vigour • Responsible for all aspects of human performance issues • Working on full development lifecycle projects



Eskom

• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chief Mechanical Engineer

  • Feb 2013 - Jan 2016

  • Rendering technical assistance to various Eskom departments/ sites • Conducting technical due diligence on the feasibility study of the Waterberg coal projects • Representing the client in scope clarification meeting • Conduct safety reviews and participate in Hazop studies where required • Conduct audits of conveyor systems and advise on remedial actions • Provide technical input in bulk material handling systems (i.e. conveyors, stacker- reclaimers, hoppers etc.) • Undertaking a feasibility study project on covering coal stockpile • Coordination with consultant for the tendering and finalization of the contract for mechanical systems • Conducting plant equipment failure analysis and providing solutions • Provide technical input in mine equipment selection • Developed and implemented new procedure for ad hoc maintenance repairs to increase conveyor availability Show less



Sasol Technology

• United Kingdom
• Retail Office Equipment
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Mechanical Engineer

  • Jun 2007 - Jan 2013

  Project Engineer responsible for quality assurance. Performing design verification/ review calculations using PV-Elite software, technical guidance with respect to applicable design codes such as ASME, API, and NFPA, on site technical support, performance of technical audits of potential supplier companies, interpretation of the OHS Act (Act 85 of 1993), and signing mechanical completion of installations My responsibilities include but are not limited to: Client Relationship and Staff Management: • Ensuring positive and healthy relationship with the Client organization. • Lead a team of process, mechanical, production and piping engineers including the Engineering contractors (EC) team from the tail end of the Basic Engineering Phase, through the Detailed Engineering Phase and eventually to the implementation phase. • Interface link; lead and coordinated the engineering contractor’s team both on and off-site for the tie-in work as well as the interface between various stake holders Project Engineering: • Developing Project Execution Plans. • To instil good governance across the project by developing project specific procedures • Ensure that the Engineering Contractor (EC) aligns with design, operating and maintenance philosophy • Perform design reviews and ensure that the design aligns with project requirements • Participate in Hazop studies • To address technical queries arising during construction • To monitor quality during construction via fabrication and handover documents audit • Ensure that the EC perform to meet the project requirements during manufacturing and construction. • Participate in bid clarification meetings • Attend Pre-manufacturing meeting and ensure that all Sasol requirements are incorporated in the fabrication • Ensure that all the legal and third party requirements are attended to Show less



SAB Limited

• United Kingdom
• Wholesale

• Operations Management Trainee

  • Jul 2006 - May 2007

  Management • Managed a team of 13 people who were responsible for running the distribution department • Ensured competitive behavior so as to improve market position by way of trade visits • Managed distribution trucks to ensure they were well maintained and utilized accordingly • Optimized warehouse capacity and layout Finance • Developed the distribution budget (capital and operating expenditure) based on historic trends and projections • Monitored distribution key performance indicators to ensure that profit was increased • Managed stock using the first in first out principle (FIFO) to avoid inventory being written off which reduces revenue Show less



Anglo American

• United Kingdom
• Mining
• 700 & Above Employee

• Junior Engineer

  • Nov 2004 - Jun 2006

  • Participated in underground mine shutdown activities • Understanding mineral process and utilization through spending time at the operations • Involved in the design of complete belt conveyor systems (bulk material handling) • Conducting failure analysis of conveyor to prevent recurrence with the aid of software tools • Performing computer simulation to predict the conveyor behavior in order to make a sound judgment • Participated in underground mine shutdown activities • Understanding mineral process and utilization through spending time at the operations • Involved in the design of complete belt conveyor systems (bulk material handling) • Conducting failure analysis of conveyor to prevent recurrence with the aid of software tools • Performing computer simulation to predict the conveyor behavior in order to make a sound judgment