Tshepho John Mokwele is an accomplished Mining Engineer with more than 20 years of experience in the mining and heavy engineering industry. He currently serves as a legally appointed Mine Engineer (Regulation 2.13.1) in South Africa, where he is responsible for the operational and legal management of mining equipment, diesel fleets, and coal processing plant infrastructure.

Throughout his career, Tshepho has played a critical role in the commissioning, maintenance, and optimization of large-scale mining operations. His expertise includes reliability-centered maintenance (RCM), equipment fleet management, safety and compliance systems, and large capital engineering projects. He has successfully led the commissioning of major assets such as Eskom substations, coal processing plants, fleet management systems, and multiple large mining equipment fleets.

Prior to his current role, Tshepho served as a Senior Mining and Maintenance Engineer at Phosphate Mine in Phalaborwa area, where he led multidisciplinary engineering teams, managed large diesel fleets, and implemented preventative and predictive maintenance strategies. Earlier in his career, he held engineering and contractor management roles at Anglo American Thermal Coal operations, gaining extensive experience in plant maintenance, project management, and contractor coordination.

Tshepho holds a B-Tech Degree in Mechanical Engineering and he obtained the prestigious Government Certificate of Competency (GCC) –Mines and Works in 2012. He further enhanced his leadership capabilities through the Management Development Programme at the University of Stellenbosch.

With deep technical knowledge and practical field experience, Tshepho is passionate about sharing engineering knowledge and simplifying complex mining and maintenance concepts for professionals and beginners alike. Through this book, he aims to help readers understand the fundamentals of mining equipment, maintenance strategies, and operational excellence in the mining industry