– Oyu Tolgoi will use the best available technology to conserve water in the Gobi desert –
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia – The Oyu Tolgoi mine, a key pillar of Mongolian development, will begin production soon. Water is a treasure in the Gobi desert and essential for mine operations. Therefore, Oyu Tolgoi prioritises efficient water use and looks to protect this resource at all times. For this goal, the mine aims to use the highest technology for water conservation that will either use the minimum possible amount of water for the task or in some cases, and if possible, no use of water at all.
Machines and equipment with minimum water usage have been installed at the Oyu Tolgoi mine. 80 per cent of production water at Oyu Tolgoi will be treated and re-used. All treated and processed water will be re-used for production. G.Erdenetuya, Environmental Compliance Superintendent in charge of legal compliance with the Environmental Department of Oyu Tolgoi, said "The water re-use model that we use is one of the most conservative water use models in the world. Oyu Tolgoi is committed to implementing water-efficient technology and saving water resources for the local community and future generations”.
Oyu Tolgoi is committed to zero impact on springs and water wells used by local herders. With this in mind, the mine has been monitoring the quality and level of water in the hand-operated water wells since 2003. Oyu Tolgoi monitors 356 different water wells in Khanbogd, Manlai, and Bayan-Ovoo soums on a weekly, monthly and quarterly basis. Additional water quality monitoring at 261 drinking water sources, waste treatment facilities and water distribution points take place on a quarterly basis.
About Oyu Tolgoi LLC (http://en.ot.mn/)
Oyu Tolgoi LLC is Mongolia's largest copper and gold mining company and is a strategic partnership between the Government of Mongolia (34 per cent stake), Turquoise Hill Resources (66 per cent) and Rio Tinto. Rio Tinto is the major shareholder in Turquoise Hill Resources and the manager of the Oyu Tolgoi project. In addition to dividends from its 34 per cent stake in Oyu Tolgoi, the Government of Mongolia will receive taxes and royalties.
Oyu Tolgoi, located in the Gobi desert in southern Mongolia, will be one of the largest and highest-grade copper and gold mines in the world. It is the largest project ever developed in Mongolia, requiring a capital investment for phase 1 of more than US$6 billion.
Oyu Tolgoi is committed to contributing to a sustainable future for Mongolia. At least 9 out of 10 employees will be Mongolian once the mine is in production and Oyu Tolgoi is investing US$58 million dollars (78 billion MNT) in training and education and an additional US$27 million dollars (36 billion MNT) in the Workforce Employment Project designed to help address the general skills shortage in Mongolia
Oyu Tolgoi's key priorities are the health and safety of employees, best-practice environmental management, contributing to sustainable communities and always doing business with integrity, for the benefit of all the project's shareholders and the people of Mongolia.
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