Mine celebrates the cultural heritage of herder communities
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (ot.mn) – Last Friday, November 25th, Oyu Tolgoi sponsored the 1000th baby Camel festival in Bayanbag, Khanbogd Soum, South Gobi. This is the second year in succession that this bag has celebrated 1000 baby camels in one year – a very auspicious occasion. Celebrating the 1000 baby Camel festival acknowledges a significant contribution to increase of camel population in the Gobi as camel is core to the Gobi culture.
Bayan bag is 100km from the Oyu Tolgoi site, and many of local camel herders attended the festivities, some of whom work with Oyu Tolgoi.
Herders at the festival competed in relay race on camels, motorbikes and on foot. There was also a competition for the most beautiful female and male camels, the most productive female camel, and the healthiest camel, Oyu Tolgoi gave certificates and financial support to the best young herders who are honouring the finest traditions of animal husbandry.
The local governor of the bag was present, and Oyu Tolgoi was represented by Mongolian Senior Manager for communities, Sugar G, and Land and Cultural Resources Superintendent, Tserennadmid O.
Sugar G, known as Suugie, said: “We are delighted to sponsor the 1000th baby Camel festival. This is a truly auspicious occasion and a wonderful celebration of the thriving herder culture in the South Gobi.
“Oyu Tolgoi is committed to protecting and preserving the cultural heritage of the South Gobi. The South Gobi contains not just mineral wealth, but a huge wealth of cultural treasure.”
Oyu Tolgoi is currently celebrating its work on cultural heritage, and will shortly be releasing its ‘Protecting the Past, Preserving the Present’ report which documents the work of the Cultural Resources team in the South Gobi.
About Oyu Tolgoi (www.ot.mn)
Oyu Tolgoi LLC is Mongolia’s largest copper and gold mining company and is a strategic partnership between the Government of Mongolia, Ivanhoe Mines and Rio Tinto. Rio Tinto is the major shareholder in Ivanhoe Mines and the manager of Oyu Tolgoi. In addition to dividends from its 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 one 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$85 million dollars (110 billion MNT) in training.
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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