Interview: P.Munkhtuya “Achieving our goal is so satisfying”

– Oyu Tolgoi is developing an international mining culture in Mongolia –

Thanks to hundreds of Mongolian engineers and technicians working with world-class techniques and technology, Oyu Tolgoi’s concentrator recently began producing copper concentrate. One of these professionals is Senior Metallurgist Flotation, P.Munkhtuya. She spoke to us about working at Oyu Tolgoi.

Let’s start by asking you about which school you graduated from and what you majored in?
I spent ten years at a Secondary school in Bayankhongor province and then enrolled in the first Oil and Chemical group at the Chemical School of the Mongolian National University. This class began after the discovery of the Tamsag oil deposit. In the spring of my first year of study I won a contest organised by the Ministry of Education to study in the Russian Federation. After five years of study, I graduated from Irkutsk University with a major in Chemistry.

Where did you work after graduation? How did you become involved with the mining sector?
After graduating in 2004 I learned that the Erdenet plant was recruiting professionals in chemistry. At that stage I was not very knowledgeable about mining. After successfully passing the tests, I got a job there, first as an expert engineer at the Hydrometallurgical Research Lab, then at the plant’s School of Technology in the Central Chemical Lab. After returning to Russia to study at Mining School in Saint Petersburg and obtaining a Ph.D. degree in Floating Concentration Technology, I joined Oyu Tolgoi LLC in November 2011.

What kind of people work at Oyu Tolgoi LLC? People frequently ask about the knowledge and skills required and how fair the selection process is. How were you hired?
Soon after graduating from Mining School, I saw the advertisement about job vacancies at Oyu Tolgoi. I submitted my application, went through the first and second stage interviews and was hired. I guess that my strengths were my education abroad and my Ph.D. Also, as well as my Russian language proficiency, my English skills, apparently, seemed important. I had studied in Germany under the International Student Exchange Programme. Under this programme, I also worked closely with foreign students who were visiting Mongolia and I took this opportunity to learn more about the culture of different countries and improve my English skills.

The first copper concentrate on 31 January 2013

Tell me how you start your day. Is working at the mine hard for a woman? Have you ever had moments where you thought about leaving your job?
We work from 6 am until 6 pm. At 6.30 am we have a meeting of the Metallurgical section, followed by the leadership meeting of the Production and Technical Department. This is where representatives of all levels of the concentrator plant discuss the day’s activity plan and how to overcome any issues. I do not operate the machine myself but oversee the technological process. As I love my work, and derive great satisfaction from what I’m doing, I do not feel that my job is a burden.

Can you explain what your job involves?
It would take a long time to explain all of the production phases in detail and it might be difficult for people to understand. To put it simply, ore is processed to produce concentrate and this is then smelted to extract the copper. The most important thing is for the concentrate to have a high copper content. At present the concentrate contains an average of 24 per cent pure copper, so 100g of concentrate has 24g of pure copper as well as other metals. This content fluctuates somewhat each day. My job is to ensure that the content and quality of the metal in the concentrate is at a high level. If the level or quality decreases, I identify why this is and take immediate corrective action. I make every effort to keep the copper content as high as possible because the higher the content is the higher the price is on the market. It is quite a responsible job.

Do you have much leisure time at the mine? How do you spend it? Have you acclimatised to the Gobi?
Despite being very busy with work, I take part in sport with my colleagues – mostly playing volleyball and table tennis. As a woman, I do like to keep fit. We have a recreation center with modern equipment at the site, which has been created with all the right conditions for spending our leisure time. Since I began working here, I have got quite used to the local climate. The summer is hot, the winter is warm and the air is clean. We work at the mine for 28 days and then have 14 days to rest.

Do you want your family to live with you at the site?
Of course I want my family to live close to my work place. I think that this will happen once Oyu Tolgoi is complete and starts commercial production.

Oyu Tolgoi is very big development project. What has this development meant to you?
We are the pioneers of developing and constructing the project. We feel proud to be part of something that is opening up such big opportunities. Therefore, we work really hard in everything we do and learn more and more every day. Oyu Tolgoi is developing an international mining culture in Mongolia.

Would you update us on the concentrator of Oyu Tolgoi mine?
The ceremony to commission the Oyu Tolgoi concentrator took place on 27 December. On 31 January, just a few days ago, we witnessed the first production of copper concentrate.

This was the accomplishment of a big goal for all Oyu Tolgoi LLC employees and we feel highly satisfied. You know, the work gives you an unmatched feeling of satisfaction. I think that all Mongolians feel the same. So far, as planned, all activities have gone smoothly. We are now looking forward to undertaking the first haulage of copper concentrate. A bright future awaits us. In the coming three years we will be processing 100,000 tonnes of ore each day and then we will increase our daily production capacity to 150,000 tonnes. Our plant is one of the largest and most state-of-the-art facilities around. It is ranked 5th worldwide and 1st in Asia.

We are talking just before the Mongolian national holiday – Tsagaan Sar. Is there anything that you would like to say to people?
Have a good Tsagaan Sar. I would like to wish the entire Mongolian nation, my parents, older and younger siblings, friends, colleagues and all Oyu Tolgoi company employees all the best for the coming year.