Interview: B.Baatarzorigt “Geotechnics is essence of mining”

– I firmly believe that just as the Erdenet mine contributed to the Mongolian economy for many decades, Oyu Tolgoi will bring much change to the development of our country –

So you have worked at Oyu Tolgoi for a decade. What are your first memories from when you first arrived?
Yes. I have been working at Oyu Tolgoi for a decade. In 2003, we first set up the geotechnical department with about ten young guys arriving here for the first time. I started my working career as an intern. The first thing we saw was just a few gers. We settled down in Ger no.43 and 34. Our camp had one TV which broadcast national channels and one TV connected to cable. Everybody gathered around to watch that TV. Today, each Ger has a hot shower, LCD TV and internet connection. This makes sure that everyone can live with all their personal conveniences. In the early days, there was an older gentleman called Sukhee who was head of the support department for exploration expeditions. He would always tell us that in ten years, a large camp, meeting all human needs, would be developed here.

Within a decade, the forty gers turned into one of the world’s largest mining camps. And what happened to the intern in that time?
Oyu Tolgoi is inseparable from my life. During this period, my career progressed from intern to geotechnician, geotechnical engineer, geotechnical supervisor and now I’m a senior geotechnical supervisor.

What is the advantage of working at Oyu Tolgoi?
Of course, mastering the latest global equipment and technology and working side-by-side with some of the world’s best experts is a very good opportunity for a geotechnician. Oyu Tolgoi offers equal opportunities for each person to move on and progress in their professional field. Just like I started my working career as an intern, many others have progressed. For example, a young man who was an assistant became the manager and a girl who was working in the service department became an office employee. Most importantly, people here learn about proper working practices and habits to help them act responsibly in their work.

Why is geotechnics so important in mining?
All the world’s large mining schools have geotechnical departments. In Mongolia, we didn’t have trained mining geotechnicians apart from the specialists who graduated in the former Soviet Union. Geotechnicians are trained in the construction sector or road soil studies. However, these are different and geotechnics is a very important part of mining. Geotechnical surveys determine the physical and mechanical characteristics and stability of rocks. Based on this, the stability of the walls of an open pit mine and the support designs of the underground mine can be designed.

Up to 80per cent of the value of the ore body of our deposit will be mined through the underground block caving method.

Planning for block caving operations is completed through geotechnical surveys. They also allow quality control of the supporting structures used by monitoring wall movements in open pit and underground mines. Mines where they don’t do geotechnical surveys have a high risk of accidents occurring which may claim human lives and damage equipment and they also experience higher levels of inefficiency. Therefore, in developed countries, during mining companies IPOs, stock exchange rules require completion of geotechnical surveys. In addition to this, there are many geotechnical standards to be followed. According to the statistics, some 50 people died in mine shaft collapses in Nalaikh coal mine. We don’t know how many such cases are not reported and recorded. We also see from the media that such collapses and disasters happen abroad. Each case is related to geotechnical issues. So, as you see, geotechnics is the most essential thing in mining.

Yes, it seems really essential. How geotechnics is emphasized at Oyu Tolgoi?
About ten years ago, we started to take geotechnical surveys during the exploration stages. In Mongolia, a full geotechnical team is operating only at Oyu Tolgoi. Our geophysical team is taking measurements in drill bore holes using the latest geophysical equipment and tools and this is very important in terms of geotechnical surveying. I want to say that I’m proud to work here, because Oyu Tolgoi recognises that geotechnics is very important.

Are there many examples of your colleagues working abroad in their professional field?
I know many cases of drillers working in countries such as Australia, South Africa and Kazakhstan.

How about the first ten young guys who came to Oyu Tolgoi with you, are they still working here?
A few remain. Some have transferred to work in other departments.

So, you’ve grown from intern to senior staff during this decade in terms of your professional career. How did you start at Oyu Tolgoi the first time? It is said that there were very high requirements ranging from English language proficiency.
Now the requirement has become higher. About a decade ago, I was told that if you are working well, you have a chance to be made a full time employee and your contract will be extended. It is very important to be able to communicate with your foreign specialists in English. I think our company emphasises the need for experience for new hires.

Do you miss your home much when you work at the mine for 28 days?
Yes. This decade brought much to me not only in terms of my professional field, but also to my personal life. Initially, when I came here, I had come straight from student life and I didn’t have many things to worry about. Now, I worry about and miss my family very much. When I go home during off days, I try to spend as much time with my family as I can.

What do you do in your spare time?
I play sports and also watch movies. I watch a lot of movies.

How do you envision your future? Do you think about becoming top specialist or working in another interesting area?
As a specialist, I have full confidence for the future. In the near term, I want to continue working at Oyu Tolgoi and see the construction of the underground mine. I firmly believe that just as the Erdenet mine contributed to the Mongolian economy for many decades, Oyu Tolgoi will bring much change to the development of our country.