Appointed 1 February 2009
Sydney Kopong is a Chemical Engineer with more than seventeen (17) years of experience in mining and pyro-metallurgy (the method of refining ores at high temperature to accelerate chemical reactions) research. Sydney joined Palabora Copper from BHP Billiton where he was based in the Aluminium Casthouse overseeing aluminium ingots and T-bars production. At BHP Billiton, Sydney was part of a commissioning team that introduced the aluminium T-bars product at Hillside Aluminium at Richards Bay.
Prior to joining BHP Billiton, Sydney was a Senior Research Technician at Mintek in the Pyro-Metallurgy department overseeing several high profile projects, which include research and process thermodynamics, mechanisms, optimisation and development for the production of a wide variety of mineral commodities.
At Palabora Copper, Sydney has held several Management positions including those of Senior Manager Concentrator and Magnetite, Manager Refinery, Concentrator and Magnetite Technical Manager and Concentrator Operations Manager.