Mining Engineer Career in South Africa
Explore the official OFO occupation, common tasks, specialisations and approved South African qualification pathways.
Occupation overview
Plans and directs the engineering aspects of locating and extracting minerals (excluding Petroleum) from the earth.
What does a Mining Engineer do?
A Mining Engineer plans and directs the engineering work involved in locating and extracting minerals, excluding petroleum. The career can focus on different mining environments and technical areas, including underground coal mining, open-cast mining, metalliferous mining, rock engineering, mine ventilation and quarrying.
Specialisations
Alternative job titles
How to become a Mining Engineer in South Africa
- Explore the different areas of mining engineering and decide which environment or specialisation interests you, such as underground coal mining, open-cast mining, rock engineering or mine ventilation.
- Consider the National Diploma: Mining Engineering (SAQA ID 109687) as a directly related education pathway.
- Other mapped pathways include national certificates in electrical engineering, engineering fabrication, underground coal-mining maintenance and repair, and mechanical engineering fitting for mining and minerals.
- Confirm the current qualification, provider, admission and assessment details with SAQA, the relevant quality council or an accredited provider before enrolling.
- Use your training to develop knowledge relevant to the type of mining engineering work you want to pursue.
Edupstairs Preparation Guidance
Mining engineering offers several specialised directions, so compare the focus of each qualification and the type of mining environment it relates to. Education can provide a foundation for the field, but the most suitable pathway depends on the specialisation you want to follow. Verify current provider, registration and assessment details before making study decisions.
Useful school subjects
- Mathematics
- Physical Sciences
- Geography
- Engineering Graphics and Design
Skills that may help
- Engineering planning
- Technical decision-making
- Problem-solving
- Understanding mineral extraction processes
- Directing engineering work
- Adapting to different mining environments and specialisations