Pioneering local expertise: PRISMA and Barrick redefine training in African mining
By; Khanya Nobangule
Introduction: Collaborating for growth
Barrick Gold, the second largest gold producer in Tanzania, is dedicated to fostering local mining sector growth through its sites at North Mara and Bulyanhulu.
These mines are esteemed by the government and communities for their responsible business practices and for contributing significantly to Tanzania’s socio-economic development. Since acquiring the mines in 2019, Barrick has injected over $2.1 billion into the Tanzanian economy.
PRISMA Training Solutions holds a prominent position as a leading professional training provider in Africa, specialising in the mining sector with full Mining Qualification Authority (MQA) accreditation. With a successful history of training over 40,000 learners in mining, team, and supervisor development, PRISMA is accredited for qualifications, skills programmes, and over 400 Unit Standards by the MQA.
Their collaboration with Barrick Gold is focused on delivering tailored and sustainable education and training solutions in Tanzania, driven by Jacques Farmer, Managing Director at PRISMA. The partnership aims to enhance productivity, efficiency, and safety at both mining sites while prioritising human capital development and elevating the capabilities of local suppliers to provide top-notch training and safety interventions across Africa.
Project phases: Destination – quality training and self-sufficiency
Set to run over three phases, with at least a three to five-year view, the project began with a gap analysis encompassing technical training, compliance, safety measures, surface training, career development, and training planning, carried out in two distinct phases.
In the initial phase, the focus was on evaluating mine technical training, including competencies related to safety, compliance, technical skills, and career advancement for miners. The subsequent phase involved assessing surface training, soft skills, mineral processing, and plant operation training.
From this, a formal analysis report was generated with recommendations for the effective implementation of necessary training services at the mines. These actions encompass resource allocation, trainer placement, curriculum design, learning material enhancement, and potential incorporation of software and technology such as simulation training, Virtual Reality (VR), and e-learning.
