With 25+ years’ experience in mining and marketing, Dries du Plooy fulfilled several technical roles in Anglo American since early 2000 in the Geosciences space, spanning from geophysics, grade control and production at multiple export mines as well as mines supplying the power utility (Eskom). He then moved into leadership roles at Eskom and managing the coal supply and cost-plus contracts for two power stations and their tied Anglo American mines to ensure optimal output into the national grid.
Dries was part of a team that executed a strategy for Eskom to ensure no loadshedding during the 2010 soccer world cup. The latter role prepared him for a leadership role at Wildhorse Energy to manage Underground Coal Gasification projects in Central and Eastern Europe for four years targeting deep coal resources for power generation. The international experience during these projects prepared him for a role back with Anglo American to target coal and base metal exploration and business development in Africa and Europe.
Transitioned through several marketing roles in Anglo American and International materials, Dries set up a 3rd party trading desk, delivering a pit to port solution for several commodities using a combination of rail and trucking, exporting commodities via the smaller Southern African ports.