Mechanical and Nuclear Engineer, specializing in advanced nuclear energy systems, Small Modular Reactors, coal-fired power generation, plant engineering, and the just transition to cleaner energy.
MSc in Nuclear Engineering — KINGS, South Korea
KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School · Ulsan, South Korea
Research Focus: Machine Learning-Assisted Optimization of Small Modular Reactor Design Parameters and Deployment Configuration for South Africa's Just Energy Transition (JET).
Nuclear Power Plant Engineering
Advanced Power Reactor & SMR Technology
Reactor Design, Safety & Operations
Environmental Impact Assessment & PSA Level 3
Machine Learning & Data Analysis
Technical Expertise at KINGS
Reactor Design and Operations
APR1400/SMR design, and safety operations.
SMR Safety Analysis
APR1400/SMR safety analysis under normal and abnormal conditions.
Machine Learning & AI
ML applications in engineering optimization and energy systems.
Presenting at Conference:
- KOSOS Fall Conference, Busan BEXCO (Oct 2026)
- KNS Spring Meeting, Jeju (May 2027).
BEng in Mechanical Engineering
University of Johannesburg · Johannesburg, South Africa
Majors: Mechanical design, thermodynamics, thermal systems, heat transfer, fluid mechanics and dynamics, materials science, strength of materials, etc
Artificial Intelligence in the 4IR Certificate.
Final Year Research
- Optimization of a photocatalytic reactor chamber for waste water treatment (Distinction)
Coal-Fired Boiler Engineer — Eskom Matimba
Lephalale, South Africa
Maintenance Strategy
Developed and implemented strategies for primary-air, secondary-air, and flue-gas systems — including PA/FD/ID fans, air heaters, ducting, and dampers. Led outage scope development, plant inspections, condition monitoring, and failure investigations.
Key Project Impact
Implemented air-heater element-pack replacement and modified primary-air-heater maintenance strategy, eliminating plant production load loss drivers of 100 MW and 200 MW UCLF respectively.
US $34.3 Million Refurbishment Project
Primary Air Heater Refurbishment Project at Matimba Power Station. Initiated and led Eskom Generation Board approval of approximately US$34.3 million.
Project Value
Board-approved refurbishment budget
Life-of-Plant Planning
For allocated plant
Long-term Technical Ownership
Full project lifecycle oversight
Critical Spares & Asset Management
Engineering Intern — Public Bonds & Projects
Witbank, South Africa
Engineering Design Lead
Appointed Engineering Design Work Lead for the approximately US$3.1 million Matla duty-line pneumatic ash-conveying project — investigating recurrent leakage and failures and developing an engineering solution through the full project lifecycle.
Multi-Station Exposure
Delivered engineering design, maintenance planning, QA/QC, cost estimation, technical procedures, work instructions, project schedules, BOMs, and contractor supervision across multiple Eskom power stations — with exposure to boiler, milling, ducting, damper, air-heater, and PF-burner systems.
Trainee Applications Engineer — BMG
Bearing Man Group (BMG) · Johannesburg, South Africa
Quality Control
Performed quality control at Manufacturing Workshop for various industrial drive components used in mining and power plants, against engineering drawings and technical specifications using micrometers, Vernier calipers, and gauges.
Documentation
Compiled completed manufacturing job files for industrial drive components.
Affiliations & Training
Engineering Council of South Africa
Candidate Engineer — Mechanical
Registration No. 2023206858 | 2023 – Present
Selected Training
- Boiler Essentials — Mass & Energy Balance (3 CPD)
- Draught Plant Training
- Engineering Change Management
- Execution Release Approval (Projects)
- SAP, CAD, CFD, FEA
- MS Project Levels 1 & 2
Core Competencies
Coal Power Plant Systems
Boiler & draught systems, plant reliability, maintenance strategy, root-cause analysis, condition monitoring.
Nuclear Engineering
Reactor design & safety, SMR technology, machine learning applications, energy transition.
Project Engineering
Life-of-Plant Planning, engineering design, QA/QC, SAP, MS Project.
Xolani Bila