OPERATIONAL READINESS

This is a pro-active and forward looking planning process, which is required to prepare the operations team to ensure an effective, efficient and safe production ramp-up. A high quality operational readiness plan will mitigate the typical production ramp-up difficulties experienced in many start-up operations.

The development of an operation readiness plan is critical to the successful implementation of a project and will ultimately define the required conditions and staffing under which a new project can function in a stable and sustainable way to achieve its planned production.

An effective operation readiness plan, combined with the required associated management processes will aim to:-

• Deliver a capable team ready to operate the operation and manage the business to meet the planned goals
• Identify potential risks and problems early and allows for appropriate mitigating actions
• Increase the probability of achieving the planned goals
• Reduce the risk of budget overruns
• Deliver a sustainable, efficient operation.

The development of an effective operation readiness plan should focus on the following areas:-

• Converting the technical designs and study options into a long term operational plan
• Developing of a business plan being signed-off and accepted by all stake holders
• Provide a blue print for the operation management team to implement various aspects of the business plan with special focus on:
  • Operational level production and maintenance planning with safety focus
  • Human resource needs, recruitment, training, housing where required and planning
  • Procurement, contracts, stores and logistics
  • Business processes, financial & cost control and information integration
• An integrated compliance strategy:
  • Environmental and permitting
  • Safety and health
  • Social development
  • Employment equity
  • Mining charter
• Quality control systems
• Short interval control systems.