Benjamin Asare Afari

Maxam is an explosive manufacturing company who supplies and charge blast holes for surface and mining companies and quarries. I was contracted to oversee open pit operations at Chirano for Asante Gold.

• Buffer stock of explosive types needed by client is healthy (Minimum 14 days usage)
• Regular calibration of equipment for charging of blast holes.
• Quality of explosive products meet requirement based on VOD test and cup density test.
• Fragmentation analysis.
• Product and crew mobilized safely to blasting site.
• Charging of drill holes is done safely.
• Technical reports.
• Organize training programs and certification for the team and equipment.
• Effective personnel roaster to meet production.
• Accurate inventory of explosives and its accessories.
• Reconciliation on explosive usage with client
• Technical advise given to client on blasting in meetings
• Liaise with maintenance on equipment status and planned maintenance.
• Compliance on environment and safety is met through safety dialogue with proof and air blast and ground vibration monitoring.
• Plan and schedule explosive accessories and consumables
• Internal and external audits to meet mine regulations and company's policies.
• Good house keeping and security maintained.

Goldstone Akrokerri Limited contracted Yellow Power to mine a 45m oxide ore. After Golden Star Benso contracted Yellow Power to mine two open pits in August 2022.

• Improved dewatering through pump selection and strategic laying of pipelines. Also put in place competent pump mechanics.
• Reorganized engineering team to improve efficiency.
• Introduced a 3 shift system to increase volume movement.
• Review report templates for clarity.
• Fuel Management system improved to curb theft.
• Cost of operation (OPEX) minimized through investigation.
• A communication line developed to close operational gaps.
• Pushed director's goals by aligning them with client's expectations and mutual understanding.
• Educate and enforced safety standards.
• Identify challenges and mitigating.
• Reconcile mined volume, and day works in hours, hectares, etc.
• Report signed off figures to General Manager to raise invoice.
• Meet with clients on future developments and reports back to General Manager.
• Monthly budget preparation and defense.
• Site establishments.
• Contract reading and planing on fleet types and number needed and personnel.
• Access preparation based on mine plan and design.
• Frequent visit to working areas.

Beniwise was contracted by AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem to mine satellite pits(Teberebie cut 3, Ajopa cut 3 and Blocks 3 and 5) to boost production by mining department, Day work projects for all Departments of the mine. Again, Beniwise was in charge of secondary crusher feeding and tailings storage facility embankment for processing department.

• Established, coordinated and monitored a two- way radio control system for dissemination of information and data recording.
• Technical report on production, equipment statistics, fuel management and cost.
• Productivity studies on contracted operations.
• Contact engineering on equipment status and maintenance plan.
• Technical meetings with clients and my team members.
• Key Performance indicators monitoring.
• Health,Safety, Technical and Environment compliance monitoring.
• Engage technical supervisors/managers on shared ideas and exchange of information.
• Scheduling drill,blast, load, haul, dewatering for continuous operations.
• Strategic planning with foremen, especially on dewatering.
• Quality control assurance on drilling, charging, blast fragmentation, wall stability , embankment compaction test, slope angle checks, ore delivering grade and its movement, personnel health status etc.
• Design work plans, check work plans given by clients and using it as a guide by comparing the plan to actual.
• Budget review.
• Confirm ground engaging tools (GETs) availability.

Mining Engineer who was introduced to all mining activities from planning to ore delivery to processing.

• Daily production report using modular database
• Daily Run-off Mine Pad (ROMPAD) activity report
• Monitoring and advising key performance indicators by comparing plan to actual of contractors.
• Ore movement monitoring, both ex-pit ore and Rom-pad rehandling based on grade and feeding strategy for the day.
• Conducting productivity studies for shovels and dumpers.
• Draft monthly plan for review and approval
• Liaise with Geotech, survey, geology, contractors, drill and blast, processing to develop monthly plan.
• Redesign haul roads, pit, waste dump to meet current economic challenges or meet regulation using datamine and surpac
• Budget review with Senior Mining Engineer and Technical Mining Manager
• QAQC on drilling, blasting, charging, mining(Toe checks).
• Quarterly mine plan review with actuals to ascertain economic feasibility.

• Design shots for drilling and blasting using excel, surpac, datamine and datablast software.
• Accrual and reconciliation of drilled holes and charged holes and dayworks with contractors for the month.
• Analyse effects of fragmentation from drill and blast report.
• Project analyses and its feasiblity
• Healthy stock balance monitoring at all Rompads of about 14 days.
• Stock of explosives and consumables at the magazine determined.