From geochemist to a metallurgist

Monique AdamsRaised by his godparents at Onakaolo village, Aloys Taukeni completed his primary education at Rössing primary school in Arandis where he lived with his godfather. He later attended grade 8 at Kolin Foundation secondary school.After grade 8, his family decided that he would attend the rest of high school at Eengedjo Senior Secondary School. Since a very young age Taukeni always took part in a variety of sports codes such as boxing, basketball and soccer. He mentions that he inherited his sports nature from his father, who was a multi-skilled sports legend.“Growing up we would collect and play cards which featured basketball stars like the late Kobe Bryant and in doing so I found an instant interest in basketball, which I still play till this day,” he says.After completing high school, he went to the University of Namibia (Unam) to study BSc in chemistry and geology and graduated in 2013. Immediately after graduating in 2014, he got his first job at Gecko Laboratories in Swakopmund and worked as a junior geochemist for nine months. He later joined Tschudi Mine as a chemist where he worked for a month before joining Debmarine Namibia towards the end of 2014 as a project lab supervisor.Two years after joining the Debmarine family he was awarded a bursary by the company to study towards an honours degree in metallurgical engineering at the University of Pretoria. “This adjustment required me to jump into unknown territory and onto a completely different path over a short period of time. It created new experiences and new requirements. It wasn’t an easy journey, but with an open mind, faith and a little courage, nothing is impossible especially when you have God in your corner,” he says.“Upon graduating, I rejoined the company as a graduate metallurgist for two years. As a graduate metallurgist, I was exposed to the entire Debmarine Namibia diamond mining operations as well as land-based diamond mining operations at Namdeb and Venetia mine in South Africa,” he says.“The reason why I chose metallurgy as a career choice is that I wanted to add instant value to the economy and that is exactly what metallurgy entails. It is the upgrading and beneficiation of valuables that makes mining so profitable. Without metallurgy, mining operations would have very little value,” he says.When he is not at work, Taukeni enjoys playing basketball and soccer. He also enjoys travelling and exploring new places, which allows him to experience different environments.If Taukeni could have dinner with someone that he admires the most, it would be Elon Musk because he sees problems as opportunities and believes that there is an innovation to solve every problem that arises and regardless of all the challenges Elon Musk faces he keeps on moving and that inspires the innovative Taukeni.The advice he has for aspiring metallurgists: “It is important to make sure you study metallurgy because you have a passion for it and not just because you did math and science at school. Connect with people in the industry and try finding a mentor,” he says.If Taukeni could change anything in the world it would be ensuring that every person has access to necessities and opportunities such as education and employment.

From geochemist to a metallurgist

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Namibian Sun 2025-10-31

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From geochemist to a metallurgist

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Namibian Sun 2025-10-31

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