Oyu Tolgoi has been partnering with national and local government agencies to enhance disaster preparedness and emergency response measures. As part of this commitment, Oyu Tolgoi has donated communication equipment worth MNT230 million to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), officially handing it over to Chief of NEMA, Major General G. Ariunbuyan. These communication devices will play a crucial role in ensuring undisrupted coordination during rescue operations and enhancing the safety of NEMA personnel.
Philip Abraham, General Manager, Health, Safety, Environment and Community at Oyu Tolgoi, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating: “The unpredictable nature of disasters creates a unique challenge for everyone working in emergency management. Whilst we cannot predict the timing of the disaster, we can ensure our people are equipped and prepared to tackle them when they occur. Oyu Tolgoi is proud to have a strong partnership with NEMA. I am delighted to deliver this telecommunications equipment that will contribute to ensuring uninterruptible communication of NEMA activities, especially during critical times, improving the response capability but importantly helping protect the lives of citizens and importantly NEMA personel. I would also like to note that Oyu Tolgoi will continue to partner closely with NEMA as well as regional and local emergency management departments.”
Oyu Tolgoi and NEMA’s Partnership
Oyu Tolgoi has been actively partnering with NEMA, especially since a two-year MoU was signed in 2019, laying the foundation for close cooperation in disaster preparedness, management and response. In October 2023, a new MoU was signed between the parties, which will be effective for the next three years. Since 2020, Oyu Tolgoi has donated equipment and supplies essential for worth MNT 1.271 billion to NEMA to enhance emergency response measures.
Some key contributions include:
- Oyu Tolgoi’s Underground Rescue Team has provided a series of trainings to NEMA’s Mining Rescue Team during the past 5 years, aiming to improve NEMA’s disaster response capacity in the event of mining industrial accidents. To date, over 100 rescuers have participated in the training.
- Donated a fully equipped fire truck to the Khanbogd soum’s Fire Department to strengthen firefighting capacity in the region as well as ensuring the safety of local citizens.
- Donated essential equipment and protective gear to NEMA during the July 2023 flood disaster in Ulaanbaatar to help NEMA mitigate the impact of the floods.
- Launched the nationwide “Be Ready” an earthquake awareness campaign aimed at educating individuals, families, and organizations about earthquake preparedness and risk awareness. The campaign also provides first-hand knowledge of protecting one’s safety in the event of a disaster. Additionally, the website belenbai.mn was introduced to grant public access to critical disaster preparedness information.
Oyu Tolgoi is committed to creating a positive impact at every corner of Mongolia, extending beyond the mine area.
