– Mine planted 4 tons of local plant seeds across 42 km in Manlai soum –
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (ot.mn) – Oyu Tolgoi, the major copper and gold mine in the South Gobi has announced that it is working closely with local government, citizens councils, civic society representatives, and herders on several programs to help improve the living standards of Mongolian people, including environmental management.
The mine is implementing a ground-breaking environmental monitoring program in close cooperation with the Mongolian Pastureland Management Association, pastureland NGO Altan Nutag of Khanbogd soum and local residents and herders in order to protect the natural environment of the region.
Since 2010, Oyu Tolgoi has conducted pastureland health surveys in 37 different spots with each covering an area of 50 x 25 m. The studies found that 33 percent is fresh pastureland, 52 percent is slightly deteriorated, 9 per cent ha ad medium level of deterioration, and 6 per cent is badly deteriorated. The data will be fed into further studies on how to reduce and eradicate this impact.
According to residents, one key factor for pastureland deterioration is the impact of machinery and motor vehicles. S.Dorjderem, the senior specialist at the Environmental Department of Oyu Tolgoi in charge of the survey said: “The main transport route of Oyu Tolgoi-Choyor-Ulaanbaatar passes through the territory of the Manlai soum of Umnugobi Aimag. That’s fine but other users have branched out onto many smaller roads and because of this the land surface has deteriorated, the soil vegetation covering is reduced and there is more dust in the air particles in the air.
“The Manlai soum governor’s office decided to close these roads and Oyu Tolgoi paved and improved the main established road and initiated biological rehabilitation of the damaged pastureland.”
Specialists at the Environmental department surveyed the size of the area to be rehabilitated in partnership with the State Environmental Inspector of Manlai soum and concluded that 200 ha needs to be rehabilitated. Oyu Tolgoi provided equipment and machinery and 4 tons of plant seeds of the area. Some 38 local residents headed by the State Inspector of Manlai soum conducted rehabilitation work in a 150 ha area stretching 42 km last autumn.
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), Ivanhoe Mines (66 per cent) and Rio Tinto. Rio Tinto is the major shareholder in Ivanhoe Mines 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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