GMES Student Internship Q&A: Rapheka Yah Targbwe
Rapheka Yah Targbwe, MS Mining Engineering 2024
Home City: Harbel LIBERIA
Rapheka Targbwe spent her summer as an intern at Freeport McMoRan, diving into the world of Short-Range Planning. Her main responsibility? Developing a monthly production schedule—a key component of keeping operations running smoothly! Beyond the technical skills, Rapheka was inspired by the incredible teamwork she saw throughout the industry. And here’s the cherry on top: she’s earning her MS degree after just one impressive year as a Husky! Read on to see how her experience could inspire you.
Q: Where did you intern?
A: Freeport McMoRan, Safford Operations in Arizona
Q: When did you intern?
A: Summer 2024.
Q: What were your key responsibilities during your internship?
A: As the short-range planning intern, my primary responsibility was to
develop a monthly production schedule from April to December 2025. This entails forecasting and resource (shovel) allocation, which was part of my project.
Q: What surprised you most about working in the industry?
A: I was surprised by how interdependent the industry is. Every department relies on each other to ensure that production goals are met. Mine planning engineers relied on information from the geologists before making a plan, and drill and blast engineers needed information from mine engineers, the slopes stability department, or mine operations. It was really amazing to see and understand the amount of teamwork that goes into mine production.
Q: Did your internship give you a better understanding of any specific processes or technology?
A: I knew little about short-range planning or leach pad stacking before my internship. Now, I understand how these processes work and can be implemented in the mining industry.
Q: What kind of hands-on experience did you gain in the field, labs, or sites?
A: My project enabled me to perform proper data visualization and analysis.
Q: What aspect of the internship did you find most rewarding or valuable?
A: The most valuable part of my internship was the people I met and worked with. From my fellow interns, mentors, and supervisors to the entire mine engineering team, they were just amazing people to work with. They respected my ideas and opinions and didn’t make me feel like “I was just an intern.” The entire work environment was phenomenal. I loved it!
Q: Did your experience change your perspective on the industry or your future career goals?
A: I’ve always wanted to be a mining engineer who’s well-versed in every or most aspects of the industry. My internship gave me a clearer picture of where I want to be – mine planning and design.
