Stephen Miller

BEng (Mining), FAusIMM, 1st Class Mine Managers Ticket (WA)

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Stephen is an accomplished mining engineer with over 30 years’ experience, 17 of which were in consulting roles throughout many countries including Australia, Botswana, China, India, Russia, Norway, Germany, and Mexico.

His commodities experience covers coal, base and precious metals, chromite, barite, and mineral sands. Stephen has a solid foundation in “whole of mine” thinking across many different commodities, mining methods and countries of operation. This foundation allows him to be a lateral thinker when attacking issues and offers a variety of approaches when developing solutions. Stephen holds a 1st Class Mine Managers Ticket (WA), along with expertise in the following software: Surpac, Microsoft Excel and Project.

Expertise

  • Feasibility Studies
  • Mine Design & Optimisation
  • Mine Planning
  • Mine Strategic Review
  • JORC Reserve Competent Person

Track Record

  • Stephen was the Mining Project Leader for a new project at the new Mupani Gold Mine in Botswana. He was significantly involved in the design, contract set up and start up which ultimately saw the mining project commence on time and on budget.
  • As the Mining Consultant for Elkon Uranium (Russia), Stephen reviewed the global resource and made a whole of project mine plan rather than their old shaft by shaft approach. This major modification identified significant capital and operating cost benefits over the total known project.
  • Stephen was the Lead Mining Engineer for Gwalia Deeps (Western Australia) and involved in the Deep Mine Feasibility. He led the mine design interactions with geotechnical, ventilation and backfill engineers on a potentially high stress mining project at depth. At the time they were designing one of the deepest mines in WA, working on new geotechnical modelling theories as well as facing many issues. The project was approved and commenced as planned. It has since become the deepest operating mine in WA.
  • As the Contract Mining Engineer for Renison Bell Tin (Tasmania), Stephen fully reviewed the operation to identify developments to improve profitability. A change in the mining layout, downstream processing and eventually a change from contract mining to owner operating mining led the operation to being in a positive cash flow and able to secure additional funding.
  • Stephen was asked to review the operation as a Contract Mining Engineer for Marvel Loch Operations (WA). His review identified several areas of improvement (geological, mining, etc) which ultimately led to the continuation and extension (3 years) to the mine life.