Rare Earths SX Operator — 7/7 Shifts, Camp Life

LUKA RESOURCES; Eneabba; On-site; AUD 170,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Iluka Resources seeks highly experienced SX Operators to operate the refinery’s solvent extraction and product finishing areas at Eneabba, WA. The roles follow a 7 days on, 7 days off, 7 nights on/off roster, with initial commissioning and shift patterns potentially day shifts during commissioning.

The positions require extensive SX plant experience, DCS operation, and strong leadership to coordinate small teams while maintaining quality, recovery and mass balance across multiple circuits.

Qualifications

• Five-plus years’ experience operating solvent extraction plants of >200 stages, with at least two of these years in control room operator or supervisor roles.
• Extensive experience in C4 (feed on) commissioning of rare earths solvent extraction circuits in commercially successful full-scale plants.
• Ability to lead small teams during commissioning, quickly, flexibly and safely solving problems to maintain schedule.
• Extensive experience in operating Distributed Control Systems.
• A strong understanding of solvent extraction chemistry with the ability to quickly undertake calculations and assess set point changes to maintain circuit control.
• Experience monitoring SX circuits via DCS, laboratory analyses, trends and field observations.
• Experience managing and recording solvent extraction circuit chemistry and mass balance.
• Experience managing a complex solvent extraction refinery plant materials balance with multiple interdependent streams.
• Ability to read and interpret process flow diagrams and piping and instrumentation diagrams.
• Additional experience with precipitation and calcination of rare earth products will be regarded highly.

Responsibilities

• Undertake water and fluid commissioning in all areas of the refinery
• Feed on commissioning for the solvent extraction circuits and evaporators
• Equilibrium establishment for solvent extraction circuits
• Manage quality, recovery and mass balance of multiple solvent extraction circuits whilst undertaking control room operator duties
• Log circuit performance, observations and changes to set points
• Creation of trends to assist in problem-solving
• Direct and manage in-field operators
• In-field control of mass balance (via standpipes)
• Undertake representative and safe in-field sampling
• Keep circuits clean and free of organic spillages
• Design, creation, hanging and removal of isolation and work permits
• Follow and help refine operational procedures

Skills

Solvent extraction

Control room supervision

DCS experience

Solvent extraction chemistry

Mass balance monitoring

Tools

DCS systems

Job description

Iluka Resources seeks highly experienced SX Operators to operate the refinery’s solvent extraction and product finishing areas at Eneabba, WA. The roles follow a 7 days on, 7 days off, 7 nights on/off roster, with initial commissioning and shift patterns potentially day shifts during commissioning.

The positions require extensive SX plant experience, DCS operation, and strong leadership to coordinate small teams while maintaining quality, recovery and mass balance across multiple circuits.