On 20 and 21 November 2023, final-year Mining Engineering students at the University of Pretoria presented their PSC 411 project dissertations. The module involved industry-assigned projects, with Mr. Wilhelm Warschkuhl and Mr. Brandon Okhuis from VBKOM assisting in evaluating and moderating the presentations.

VBKOM, in partnership with Enterprises University of Pretoria, created a training solution that focused on the different aspects of the mining value chain. This custom short course in Open Pit Mine Planning and Design enables delegates to learn the basic theory of open pit mining and the application thereof, while having the opportunity to interact with experts in the field.

One of the most highly-anticipated events for the VBKOM team is the annual MASUP Year-end Function, and this year attendees were not disappointed. MASUP arranged for the attendees to board the Rovos Rail, where they were transported to a time portrayed in old British and Hollywood movies like “Murder on the Orient Express” and “Death on the Nile”.

VBKOM prides itself on giving back to the community and on helping others to achieve success. We acknowledge the importance of fostering and nurturing talent within the mining sector, viewing it as a prime opportunity for advancing our brand.

By unearthing opportunities, our solutions have the power to improve lives. This is not only true for our technical solutions but also for how we view our participation in creating a better world, particularly the communities in which we work and live. The #BackToSchool initiative is the second engagement VBKOM and SSM since December 2022.

The University of Pretoria invited VBKOM to participate as guest lecturers for the 2023 final-year undergraduate Mining Engineering students. As part of the underground mining module, VBKOM’s Paul Obermeyer (Principal Geologist) and Francois Nell (Mining Engineer) each delivered a lecture on the 1^st of March 2023. VBKOM’s delivery was based on the SAMREC Code and the mining value chain from deposit discovery to operating mines.

By unearthing opportunities, our solutions have the power to improve lives. This is not only true for our technical solutions but also for how we view our participation in creating a better world. What it comes down to is that our primary goal is to positively impact the lives of others, particularly the communities in which we work and live.

The annual Golf Day hosted by the University of Pretoria Department of Mining Engineering (DOME) and in association with the Mining Alumni Society (MASUP) is a well-attended key event for the VBKOM team.

The Open-Pit Mine Planning and Design course presented by VBKOM and experts from the Department of Mining Engineering at the University of Pretoria through Enterprises UP has become an annual training event of note.

It was the great pleasure of Mr. Wilhelm Warschkuhl, Principal Mining Engineer, and Mr. Francois Nell, Mining Engineer, at VBKOM to assist the University of Pretoria's Department of Mining Engineering in evaluating and moderating the oral examinations for the 'Mine Design and Research' module.