ABOUT US
Based in Perth, Western Australia, Dinsdale Consultants provides a range of consulting services to the mining industry in Australia and elsewhere.
The downstream processing of metallic ores, with a special focus on iron ores, is a speciality of the Dinsdale team, who have undertaken numerous consulting assignments and feasibility studies for the owners of ore resources in Australia and elsewhere.
Dinsdale has examined numerous ore resources and evaluated the technical and economic viability of their development.
Dinsdale has experience with a range of ferrous ore processes, and has access to a range of proprietary processing technologies, including those for:
Production of magnetite and hematite concentrates;
Pelletising of iron concentrates to produce ironmaking feeds;
Gas-based Direct Reduction of iron ores and concentrates;
Innovative processes for the production of Pig Iron.
In addition to iron ores, Dinsdale undertakes evaluations of base metals and ilmenite ores and is participating in the development proprietary technology for the extraction of high-grade rutile from low-grade ilmenite.
THE TEAM
Behind Dindsdale Consultants
JIM CRIBBES
Director
Mr Cribbes is a highly experienced engineer with many years of experience in the development of major projects for the iron and steel industry around the world. Some such projects include:
Process leader for new iron pelletising projects for Hibbing Taconite and Minorca mines in Northern Minnesota, USA and Sidbec Normines, in Quebec, Canada;
Project Director for a new grass roots 7.5 mtpa iron direct reduction project for Grasim Industries, India;
Leader for the development of new technology for the production of stainless steel using a custom stainless alloy feed, and demonstration of its Value-in-Use for the users.
Mr Cribbes holds a degree of B.Sc. (Hons) in Chemical Engineering from Edinburgh University, Scotland and is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
DAVID WEBSTER
Executive Consultant
David has extensive executive-level operational and project delivery experience for a wide range of projects in the iron ore and down-stream processing industry. He has undertaken major iron ore projects for BHP, Glencore and Xstrata amongst others.
David has had hands-on management experience in the development of innovative processes for the reduction of iron ores and their processing into steel products. His background also includes oversight of the development of process plants for the extraction of nickel, cobalt and other battery metals.
BRIAN POVEY
Metallurgical Consultant
Brian has extensive experience in both the operation and design of iron ore processing plants. He spent 15 years in senior management roles in a major magnetite concentrator and pelletising operation in Australia including roles as chief metallurgist and mine Resident Manager. He then moved to a position as Operating Manager of a 6Mtpa coal mine in Queensland and then a 7Mtpa contract iron ore mining operation in the Pilbara.
He joined BHP Engineering on the design of the Boodarie DR grade hematite concentrator and then Davy John Brown/Kvaerner for a variety of magnetite projects. He led the process design team for the OneSteel (now SIMEC Mining) and Karara Mining magnetite concentrators in SA and WA respectively – both of which are now operating. He has carried out wide ranging consultancy commissions and due diligence studies on numerous projects both outside and within Australia, many of which were in magnetite and hematite processing.
STEVE HOWARD
Study and Project Manager
Steve has 35 years’ experience in mine process plants, transport, Port infrastructure development oil and gas process systems, gas compression, Power system, rail infrastructure, Manufacturing and Fabrication, experienced in all aspects of process construction associated with Hematite, Magnetite, Gold, Uranium, Nickel, Copper and Mineral sands.
Steve successfully managed multiple studies from Scoping Studies up to major Bankable Feasibility Studies, directly managed major construction projects and managed mine start-ups through engineering, approvals to production. Along with numerous projects in Australia, he has worked in Ghana, Angola, Fiji, Indonesia and the UK
Steve is also the author of the Rawlinson’s series of Process Engineering Handbooks on Project Management and Construction Estimating for Mining and infrastructure.
DR CHRIS URE
Pyro-metallurgical Consultant
Chris is a pyro-metallurgical process engineer with 30+ years’ experience, primarily in metallurgy. He has worked in heavy industry at New Zealand Steel, the consulting industry at ProMet Engineers and METS,and a mining project development in Fiji for Amex Resources.
Chris initially trained as a mechanical engineer, then as a metallurgist/process engineer. His most recent interest has been in mechatronics arising from having been involved in process automation and control at New Zealand Steel. Thus, Chris brings a truly multi-experience, knowledge and skill approach to studies, projects and operations.
Two recent projects where Chris has played the leading process role are in the successful development of are the Amex Resources iron sands project (Fiji) and Hazelwood Resources (now ATC) ferrotungsten smelter (Vietnam). Be it analysis, test work, development, design, operation, improvement or auditing, he has the ability to contribute to the development of new projects or address issues in existing ones.
NEIL GOODMAN
HIsmelt Technology Consultant
Neil is a highly qualified metallurgist with extensive experience in the UK and US steel industries. Neil was deeply involved in the original development of the HIsmelt technology by Rio Tinto in Australia, and led the expatriate team who went to China with the new Chinese owners and brought the technology to full and proven commercial operation.
Neil currently is the Chief Executive of Smelt Tech Pty Ltd, a private Australian company with the rights to market the HIsmelt technology outside of China.