Minopex

About Minopex

Minopex is a mining services company that specialises in running and maintaining mineral processing plants for other businesses. The company traces its start to 1996. At that time, a coal mining client asked its sister company, DRA Mineral Projects, to recommend someone to operate a plant. The shareholders formed Minopex for that purpose, and it has grown steadily since.

Minopex says it has operated around 50 processing facilities and commissioned more than 90 worldwide. It employs over 2,000 people and works in about 14 countries. Its commodity range includes coal, chrome, iron ore, gold, diamonds and platinum group metals. Its Gauteng-based team supports operations across Africa and beyond.

How Minopex supports students

Minopex wins contracts by running other companies' plants well. That depends on having qualified engineers who understand processing, electrical systems and maintenance. The Minopex Engineering Bursary Programme is therefore a practical way to prepare future staff, as well as a form of student support.

The programme is open to students in their third or fourth year of study. Recent notices list mechanical engineering, heavy-current electrical engineering, metallurgical engineering and chemical engineering at BEng level. They also list the Advanced National Diploma in metallurgy or chemical engineering. These fields match the plant, instrumentation and metallurgy jobs that Minopex needs to fill.

Minopex has reportedly worked for major clients such as Impala Platinum, and it works closely with its sister company, DRA Mineral Projects. This gives students a link to one of the larger engineering groups in the mining sector. A metallurgical engineer at a processing plant might watch recovery rates and plant efficiency, while an electrical engineer keeps motors, drives and power systems safe and running. These jobs are practical and often located on mine sites, so be ready for travel and shift work during your career.

What to know before applying

Applicants must be South African citizens registered at a recognised South African university. You must have passed all your subjects with an average of at least 70%. The 2026 call closed on 30 January, and applications were handled online through the company's recruitment system. If you are in an earlier year of study, this programme is not for you yet, so look at other funding options first.

Minopex does not publish a formal work-back period for the bursary. Public material focuses on funding high-achieving engineering students rather than listing a compulsory return of service. However, terms can vary between intakes. Read the agreement carefully before you accept, and ask the company about vacation work or later job opportunities. For the current fields, requirements and closing date, always check the official Minopex website.