The Chamber of Mines was requested to approach to the Department of Minerals and Energy to requesting the Department to consider the introduction of a certificate of competence of limited scope for engineers on opencast operations.

The argument in support of such a certificate is that junior engineers on opencast operations have to be seconded to underground mines for some of their experiential training, e.g. training relating winding plant and refrigeration plant.  It is further argued that, once qualified, these junior engineers will never require this knowledge while employed on opencast operations.

The counter argument is that engineers holding such a certificate can only be employed on opencast mines.  In companies operating both underground and opencast mines their mobility, as well as their opportunities for promotion, is constrained hence limiting their value to their employers.