K o b i e Ve n t e r, P h . D .

+27-82-902-****

acptlz@r.postjobfree.com https://za.linkedin.com/in/kobieventer

C E RT I F I E D E N E R G Y M A N A G E R ( CEM), C H E M I C A L E N G I N E E R

1 7 + Y E A R S O F E X P E R I E N C E I N P E T R O C H E M I C A L P R O C E S S O P T I M I Z AT I O N & C O S T C O N T R O L

Analytical, cost-minded professional with extensive experience directing and supporting key projects aimed at

achieving energy wins in production environments. Strategic change manager skilled in identifying and capitalizing

on process improvement opportunities, with proven background saving millions of dollars in company costs.

Strong relationships with service providers SPIRAX, ARMSTRONG and STEAMTEC, as well as industry leaders

like McKinzey SA and KBC. Engaging communicator and respected leader of high-performance teams.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Energy Management Energy Modeling Relationship Building

Energy Efficiency Optimization Fault Finding / Problem Solving MS Excel

Refinery Operations Cost Control Cross-Team Collaboration

Artificial Intelligence Process Improvements Communications

Inventory Management Solar Implementation Regression Analysis

PROFESSIONAL E XPERIENCE

SASOL SYNFUELS Johannesburg, South Africa

Integrated energy and petrochemical company that develops and commercializes synthetic fuels technologies, and

produces liquid fuels, chemicals and electricity.

Energy Management Specialist 2009 – Present

Measure, evaluate, recommend and follow through energy related solutions. Align recommendations with

requirements for environmental compliance, cost-effectiveness and emerging technologies. Key part of energy

management team delivering energy savings in terms of fuel gas, various grades of steam and electricity. Oversee

energy performance of personnel in Refinery, Monomers, and Steam Leak Prevention. Perform petrochemical plant

energy management and process optimization, refinery operational expertise and inventory management.

Administer self-built Excel-based Mathematical Regression models to save up to 9% of unit cost

Handpicked for special team tasked to drastically reduce and measure plant’s energy consumption

Achieve energy cost metrics of SYNFUELS’ consumption to below budgeted values by actively

addressing Operational Energy issues

Team’s total savings equaling $70M per year

Production Planning Fuel Specialist 2005 – 2008

Led and supported daily/monthly production planning for total inventory management processes. Identified and

overhauled operational deficiencies to impact production planning and overall bottom line.

Achieved on-time, on-budget deliverables

Built positive, lasting relationships with high-level clients

Section Leader at Gas Water Cleaning (Level 5b) 2003 – 2004

Exercised leadership over daily plant management and maintenance, personnel management, budget control,

shutdown planning and project management. Executed statutory plant procedures and codes control.

Directed team of 50 people on a variety of qualification levels

Proactively participated in three shutdowns towards the four core goals, i.e., plant integrity, safety,

schedule and cost

K o b i e Ve n t e r, P h . D .

+27-82-902-****

acptlz@r.postjobfree.com https://za.linkedin.com/in/kobieventer

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

SASOL SYNFUELS (CONTINUED)

Logistics Manager (Level 5b) 2001 – 2002

Reported to the member of Executive Team, collaborated regularly with senior management to plan, execute and

lead projects in product shipment. Procured contracts with numerous key advisors to drive Logistic Information

System software and rail / road infrastructure decision-making. Performed regular site visits to report and correct

irregularities concerning the process of road tanker loading.

Drove improvements in team productivity, team participation and results sharing

Developed and compiled Winning Index KPI, in use since June 2002 and contributing toward of the

company Synfuels’ incentive bonus

Created KPI set to measure performance at logistics department of Supply Chain Integration

Re-deployed and improved LIS software through source code transfer, upgrades, hardware placement and

change management

Project Manager 1999 – 2000

Recommended and played leadership role in 40+ projects aimed at improving performance across various

production-related metrics. Initiatives fell into specific categories including Personnel Projects, Process Feed

Stream Projects, Utility Optimization Projects, Waste Minimization Projects, Process Improvement Projects and

Research Projects.

Spearheaded Coal Supply Prediction Model improvement, modifying and streamlining system processes

Project manager for “Plant Data Integrity,” removing 10% of plant data errors and achieving more accurate

production predictions

Catalyzed $3M in savings by directing “Process Predictions with Neural Networks” to successfully

identify and implement opportunities for improving operations and limiting downtime

PALMIET FERROCHROME

Three-furnace operation with ferrochrome capacity of 110,000 tons per year.

Plant Upgrading and Process Development 1998 – 1999

Partnered with McKinsey Breakthrough Team to troubleshoot and overhaul operations through implementation of

continuous improvement initiatives. Chief projects included Casting Bay Optimization, Gas Plant Correcting and

Feeder Improvements. Worked closely with project team members to drive efficient operations.

Achieved lowest worldwide ferrochrome production cost for DC Plasma furnace

Conceptualized and developed Knowledge Based expert system on Borland Delphi for furnace problem

diagnosing

E DUCATION

NORTHWEST UNIVERSITY, Potchefstroom, South Africa

Ph.D (Mineral Processing Plant Synthesis with Hybrid Artificial Intelligence Techniques), 1997

Masters Degree in Chemical Engineering (Slurry Pump Selection with Expert Systems), 1994

B.Eng, (Chemical Engineering), 1992

PUBLICATIONS

1. Paper presented at the Minerals Engineering Congress in Brisbane (August 1996)

2. Paper published in the Minerals Engineering Journal (March 1997)

3. Paper presented at the first Internet Congress (December 1996) on Mining Simulation: MineSim ’96

4. Paper presented (Johannesburg, June 1997) and article in the Journal of SAIMM

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