https://www.miningweekly.com

First-ever Kenyan mining PhD holder graduates from Wits

JOSEPH GITHIRIA
The Taita Taveta University lecturer has a PhD in mine planning focused on developing a stochastic approach to cutoff grade optimisation

JOSEPH GITHIRIA The Taita Taveta University lecturer has a PhD in mine planning focused on developing a stochastic approach to cutoff grade optimisation

21st June 2019

By: Nadine James

Features Managing Editor

     

Font size: - +

Kenya’s first PhD graduate in mining, Dr Joseph Githiria, graduated at the end of last year from the University of the Witwatersrand’s School of Mining Engineering (Wits School of Mining).

Githiria has since returned to his post as a lecturer at Kenya’s Taita Taveta University, where he will assist in building the country’s nascent mining sector.

His PhD in mine planning focused on devel­oping a stochastic approach to cutoff-grade optimisation – aimed at maximising net present value by concurrently varying metal price and grade-tonnage distribution in an algorithm.

Wits School of Mining head Professor Cuthbert Musingwini, who supervised Githiria’s doctoral thesis, comments that Githiria’s graduation is a highlight in the school’s history of engagement with students across Africa.

Githiria’s graduation comes only six years after Kenya formally established a standalone Ministry of Mining. He was a student at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and was a ‘pioneer’ in the Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering course in 2006. However, when he completed the five-year course in 2010, mining activity within Kenya was sparse.

After a short spell in the quarrying works of a cement producer in Kenya, he enrolled at Curtin University, in Western Australia, for an 18‑month Master of Engineering Science (Mining) degree. Specialising in mine planning, he graduated in 2013.

“Some significant oil discoveries in the north of Kenya around 2012 changed the government’s attitude towards mining,” Githiria explains. “Suddenly everyone started talking about the extractive industries.” He emphasises that Kenya needs to learn from countries like South Africa and Australia as it develops its mining sector.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Magazine Managing Editor

Article Enquiry

Email Article

Save Article

Feedback

To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here

Showroom

Advanced Fire Suppression Technologies
Advanced Fire Suppression Technologies

Established on 1 March, 2000, by Barries Barnard, Advanced Fire Suppression Technologies (AFST) and the Advanced Group stands as Sub-Saharan...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Bell Equipment
Bell Equipment

As one of South Africa's leading manufacturers, Bell Equipment distributes and exports its wide range of heavy equipment globally to mining,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.06 0.839s - 110pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now