JSE-listed metals exploration and development company Orion Minerals has announced that Peet van Coller has been appointed CFO, with effect from April 1, 2023.

The appointment forms part of a series of recent and planned appointments to Orion’s leadership team in South Africa, as the company gears up for operational readiness at its flagship Prieska copper/zinc project and Okiep copper project, in South Africa’s Northern Cape province.

Van Coller’s appointment follows a comprehensive executive search process, which sought out to recruit a South African-based CFO to support Orion’s near-term transition to development and production in South Africa.

“With the company’s transition to mine development and production underway, we are delighted to have further strengthened our team in South Africa with someone of Peet’s calibre. Peet has outstanding credentials as a finance executive in South Africa and brings valuable skill-sets to our finance team, with experience spanning both the mining and contracting sides of the industry,” says Orion MD and CEO Errol Smart.

“With definitive agreements now in place for an $87-million funding package with Triple Flag Precious Metals, and with the expectation that we’ll also execute final agreements with the Industrial Development Corporation for a R250-million convertible loan in the coming weeks, we are now forging ahead with pre-development activities at our flagship Prieska copper/zinc mine,” he comments.

Van Coller is a chartered accountant who served his articles of clerkship at Ernst & Young. He has 23 years’ experience, predominantly in the mining and manufacturing sectors, including various senior finance and commercial positions at Jubilee Group Metals, Murray & Roberts, Master Drilling, Samancor Chrome, Anglo American Platinum and Nkomati Nickel Mines.

He will succeed Orion’s long-serving CFO Martin Bouwmeester, who will remain as Orion’s company secretary and as a corporate consultant on a part-time basis, ensuring Orion will continue to benefit from his corporate experience, and financial and strategic capabilities, says Smart.

“Martin played a pivotal role in leading Orion to its current position. Martin and his team have helped Orion, as an Australian company, to thrive in the South African operating environment, including delivering a very successful secondary listing of Orion’s shares on the JSE.

“We are absolutely delighted that Martin will continue to contribute his extensive knowledge to Orion under a consultancy agreement,” he says.

“As Orion continues its transition towards development and mining, the timing is now right to bring more intense local financial management to our operations, which are concentrated in South Africa.”