MIKE Fraser, COO of South32, is to leave the company in order to pursue other opportunities, the Perth- and Johannesburg-listed mining group’s CEO, Graham Kerr announced today.
Fraser, who is responsible for the group’s Africa and Colombia operations, will be replaced by Noel Pillay who is currently vice president operations at Worsley Alumina. Pillay will shortly return to South Africa following a handover period with Fraser, Kerr said.
“Mike has been part of the South32 lead team since day one,” said Kerr. “His contribution to the company will be lasting.” Among his achievements at the company, Fraser was key in securing a new power deal for the Hillside aluminium smelter.
In July, the National Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) approved a power deal between Hillside smelter and Eskom which was priced in rands and based on a rate of escalation linked to the South Africa Producer Price Index. It expires in 2031.
This contract replaced a controversial and long-standing power supply contract that was linked to the price performance of aluminium on the London Stock Exchange.
Pillay was appointed vice president operations at Worsley Alumina in August 2018. He joined BHP in 1994 as a maintenance engineer at Hillside Aluminium and has held several leadership roles in maintenance, production, business improvement and human resources in South Africa and Australia prior to his current role, South32 said.
