As part of our sustainable land management policy, our mine closure and rehabilitation plans were developed in accordance with Mongolian laws and standards. This keeps land degradation to a minimum.
Land disturbance management
To ensure minimal land disturbance, we require an environmental inspection and assessment before any land disturbance occurs. A permit for work is only approved after protective actions identified in the assessment are completed.
This process eliminates or minimises potential impact on local water, biodiversity, the community, cultural heritage, and many other areas. It also ensures compliance with environmental and other relevant legislation. This procedure also applies to Oyu Tolgoi sponsored projects.
Topsoil management
The Oyu Tolgoi topsoil management plan is one of the most important elements in rehabilitating land affected by the mine’s operations and infrastructure development, helping to restore vegetation and biodiversity.
Before the start of any land disturbance activity, we strip and store the topsoil so it can be used to rehabilitate the land after the work is complete.
Rehabilitation
Areas that were disturbed during exploration, development and operations are rehabilitated during and after the project, including through the development of a mine closure plan at the start of the construction phase.
Making disturbed areas safe for people, animals, and the environment is the goal of rehabilitation. To make an area safe, technical rehabilitation has to be completed to high standards. We have a dedicated team to work with contractors to monitor rehabilitation.
Continuous and steady rehabilitation efforts reduce the risks of incidents after mine closure. At this time, new methods and technologies, based on the best practice perfected during years of rehabilitation work, will be used.