Turkey top envoy goes to Niger in bid to secure uranium supplies
The trip comes after Niger’s military government withdrew mining rights from Canadian and French companies to develop uranium deposits.
Strategic optimization specialists Whittle Consulting have opened a subsidiary in Johannesburg to service their growing client base in Africa. “There is considerable interest in our approach to Enterprise Optimization – it appears to be the right thing at the right time,” said Melbourne–based Managing Director Gerald Whittle. “We are pleased to have appointed Steve Burks as our Managing Director for Africa to provide direct interaction with our clients there and to develop our business in the region.”
Steve Burks joins Whittle Consulting (Africa) (Pty) Ltd in May 2010. With more than 25 years of international mining industry experience, his previous position was Chief Technology Officer of Bateman Engineering. He has also been a director of the collaborative research organization AMIRA since 2008. His expertise extends to plant operations, mathematical modeling, feasibility studies, process design, business development, project delivery, general management, technology innovation and commercialization, stock exchange listings, mergers & acquisitions and change management.
“Whittle Consulting are the clear leaders in the field of business optimization for the mining industry,” said Burks. “I look forward to helping more mining companies benefit from their unique capability which enables a step change in their economic performance.”
“We are delighted to have someone of Steve Burks’ skill and experience to manage our capability in Africa” added Whittle. “This is a region with great opportunities, and mining company management has shown a willingness to embrace new ideas to improve their company’s performance. Although the Whittle name is synonymous with ‘mining’ optimization, we can demonstrate how linking mine planning to the processing and downstream parts of the business reveals previously untapped value. Steve has the skills, experience and local knowledge to drive that process forward. He will coordinate a team of subcontract local and international specialists, including having access to Whittle Consulting’s Australian based resources.”
