Hamis Mahushi is a Tanzanian born instrumentation and control technician and alumnus of the Engineering Institute of Technology (EIT). Since graduating from our Advanced Diploma of Industrial Automation, he has furthered his career in the mining automation industry and taken on a leadership role. He currently works at North Mara Gold Mine, a few kilometers from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.
His engineering journey started in 2009 — which Hamis refers to as “the year of my life” — when he enroled in an Ordinary Diploma of Electrical Engineering. In 2012, he began working at North Mara Gold Mine, which was controlled by a company named African Barrick Gold at the time. In 2014, the company changed its name to Acacia Mining.
Under Acacia Mining, he got the opportunity to work as the Instrumentation Mechanician. A superintendent at the mine noticed Hamis’ thirst for knowledge and encouraged him to explore the automation side of the industry. Soon, Hamis was doing Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) training in South Africa. The bug had bitten, and Hamis wanted to know more.
He familiarized himself with the tools of the automation trade; Rockwell Automation products like the Rslogix 5000 and the FactoryTalk View ME and Panelview Plus. He was learning Rslogix function block programming and underwent training for SCADA on the software and hardware levels from Schneider Electric South Africa.
In 2015, he began an apprenticeship while working, and by 2016, he passed his instrument trade test. From that day forward, he could call himself a fully equipped artisan.
The passing of the trade test was wholly positive for Hamis. He was promoted to the role of Instrumentation and Control Technician. As he was settling into the job, he saw that it served him with a whole new set of complex challenges.
“I found out that I needed more knowledge that matched our new world of fast-growing technologies. I started looking for colleges on the internet, but I had a hard time believing I would find an online engineering course.”
In 2018, still on the search to expand his skills set, he stumbled upon EIT. He researched the options we had on offer, knowing he wanted to find one that would equip him for the future of the engineering industry. Finally, he found the one he was looking for: the Advanced Diploma of Industrial Automation.
“I had almost six years of experience in the mining industry — especially on the gold plant and water treatment plant — before I started studying with EIT. The Industrial Automation qualification covered everything within the plant — it just like special training for our plants. From instrumentation designs, electrical and mechanical problems, and industrial network and safety concerns”.
Hamis is one of the many examples of hardworking engineering professionals who are, as they continue to amass work experience, growing their skills with education and training.
Now, Hamis is the Acting Instrumentation and Control Supervisor at North Mara Gold Mine. He leads a team of four instrumentation technicians. His other daily responsibilities include the preparation of all instrumentation at the mine, supervising new instrumentation installations, and the ordering of new instruments. He masterfully troubleshoots PLC and SCADA systems and installs and troubleshoots VSD and high voltage instrumentation.
“I can see how happy my employers are when I am performing my tasks. This gives me a picture of my future, and my future will be great. My engineering career is expanding as I arm myself with more skills and knowledge.”
Hamis completed the course with EIT in December 2019 but does not want to slow down.
“I am still thirsty for knowledge. I wish one day to do a Bachelor of Science (Industrial Automation Engineering) with EIT. I encourage all people to open the EIT website and pursue their futures in engineering.”