In response to rising traffic and inflows of goods and passengers from Ulaanbaatar, Oyu Tolgoi completed the construction of a 12.5-kilometre paved road connecting the mine to the Tavantolgoi coal transport route to enhance safety and minimize environmental impact. The road was officially handed over to the State Commission.
Members of Parliament R.Seddorj and N.Naranbaatar, along with Deputy Governor of Umnugovi province J.Zanabazar, Governor of Khanbogd soum M.Tseveenravdan, and Speaker of the Khanbogd soum People’s Representative Khural Ts.Iderzorig, attended the inauguration ceremony for the handover of the newly built road to the State Commission.
At the ceremony, Chief Operating Officer at Oyu Tolgoi Andrew Lye remarked, “It’s a privilege to be here today to celebrate a key milestone for both Oyu Tolgoi and the Khanbogd community. From the very beginning, we have worked closely and collaboratively with local residents and authorities, ensuring their voices and perspectives have guided our efforts. This new connection between Khanbogd and Ulaanbaatar not only strengthens our logistics and supply chains but also improves road safety for everyone”.
Khanbogd soum is now directly connected to Ulaanbaatar by a continuous paved road, enabling local residents to travel more comfortably and in less time. Additionally, the reduced dust levels will create a more favorable environment for residents, livestock, and wildlife, while also boosting domestic and international tourism to Khanbogd’s historical and natural landmarks.
Previously, during floods of the Undain River, traffic was often delayed, and the dirt road required constant grading and watering, incurring high maintenance costs and posing safety risks. The new road addresses these challenges with a 220-meter-long concrete embankment crossing the Undain River, a 24 cm thick and 12-meter-wide surface, and 27 drainage structures.
This paved road fully meets national standards for roads and stands out for being constructed through extensive consultations with local herders and government officials. It features a 20 cm cement-stabilized base, a two-layer asphalt surface (5 cm base and 3 cm top), and an 11-meter-wide carriageway.
Oyu Tolgoi previously built and commissioned a 35.1-kilometre paved road from Khanbogd soum to the Oyu Tolgoi mine site, and a 19.1-kilometre heavy-duty road from Tsagaan Khad to the Gashuunsukhait border checkpoint.
