WITH a sharp mind for cost-cutting and energy saving initiatives, Xstrata Copper's Lucya Yunus has landed a highly regarded honour at the national PACE Zenith Young Achiever awards.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 26-year-old's innovative methods were recognised for her outstanding contribution to the mining industry as a control metallurgist at Xstrata Mount Isa Mines.
Competing for the award with four other finalists at the ceremony held in Melbourne last week, Ms Yunus yesterday said she had been shocked to hear her name called as the winner.
"It was a bit of a surprise," she said.
She was awarded for her innovative thinking, outlined by the tool she implemented at the copper smelter as a cost-saving project.
The tool she developed identified cost savings with the smelter's oxygen, coal and diesel consumption.
It has also resulted in several cost-saving initiatives, including setting the minimum ISASMELT feed rate of 125 tonnes per hour to maximise oxygen efficiency and the adoption of a new, modified oxygen supply distribution logic to reduce wastage and save about $80,000 per month.
She has a double degree in chemical engineering and accounting, and has been able to put both of her areas of expertise into practice since becoming an Xstrata graduate three-and-a-half years ago.
