New endowed chair in mineral processing

New chair: Prof Cyril O'Connor (right) will take up the new Anglo Platinum endowed Chair in Mineral Processing next year. He was congratulated by Anglo Platinum's executive head (process) Mike Halhead (second from left) and Francis Petersen, executive head (strategy and planning,) and UCT DVC Prof Cheryl de la Rey (second from right).

Outgoing Dean of the Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment, Professor Cyril O' Connor, will take up the new Anglo Platinum endowed Chair in Mineral Processing next year.

O' Connor is also the director of the Centre for Minerals Research.

Anglo Platinum's executive head (process) Mike Halhead said the company is committed to building research capacity and the development of skills in South Africa. UCT's chemical engineering department is the country's leader in mineral processing technology. The department's Centre for Minerals Research is an internationally recognised centre of excellence and has become a strategic partner to Anglo Platinum.

Halhead said: "Professor O'Connor is a person of international stature in the area of minerals processing research and has played a leading role in the development of critical skills development in this discipline."

The in-perpetuity chair is being underwritten by an investment of R18 million.