Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia – Oyu Tolgoi today celebrates the first anniversary since it began shipment of its copper concentrate to international customers.
In a speech to members of the workforce in Ulaanbaatar, Oyu Tolgoi President and CEO, Craig Kinnell, congratulated them on the completion of a full year of exports, and spoke about Oyu Tolgoi’s strong future.
Craig Kinnell said: “The open-pit is up and running and our business is getting stronger and stronger. The concentrate that we have produced contains enough copper to run a standard 22mm copper pipe almost five times around the world.
“That’s a lot of copper. But what we have done goes far beyond the product that we make and export.
“While we’re never complacent, we should be proud that we are bringing a new approach to safety standards in Mongolia.
“We’ve completed a five year investment of more than US$126 million in education and training, a scheme which more than 13,000 Mongolians have benefited from.
“We’re continuing to work with our neighbours to strengthen our partnership and agree a long term approach to supporting the South Gobi together.
“Our water recycling rate has now reached 86.4 per cent, reusing each drop more than five times, and making us one of the very best copper mines in the world for water efficiency.”
Looking to the future, he continued: “Our business could last as long as one hundred years. In those terms, we are a small child, with many years of growing and developing ahead of us.
“With age comes wisdom, and with experience comes strength. We have much more to do, and a lot of challenges and hard work to face together.
“But I have so much confidence in what we have already achieved – the seeds that we have sown to create a safe and thriving partnership, developing one of the best ore bodies in the world.”
In a ceremony last year, Prime Minister Altankhuyag, Mining Minister Gankhuyag, and Rio Tinto Copper Group Chief Executive, Jean Sebastien Jacques watched the first convoy of trucks depart for international markets. Since then, exports have continued to ramp-up while the business has focused on safely improving productivity and efficiency.
The full text of Mr.Kinnell’s speech to employees is attached.
About Oyu Tolgoi LLC (http://ot.mn/en)
Oyu Tolgoi LLC, Mongolia's largest copper and gold mining company, is a strategic partnership between the Government of Mongolia, Turquoise Hill Resources and Rio Tinto. Located in the Umnugobi, Oyu Tolgoi has commissioned Concentrator plant in December, 2012 and commenced shipments of copper concentrate in July of 2013. As the biggest single investment in Mongolian history, Oyu Tolgoi already is a major driver of the country’s economy.
Oyu Tolgoi is managed by Rio Tinto, which is investing global expertise and cutting-edge technology to help develop Mongolia’s mining industry and ensure Oyu Tolgoi is one of the world’s most advanced mines. Oyu Tolgoi is developing a nationwide vocational training programme, regional infrastructure, and is committed to ensuring more than 90 per cent Mongolian national employment and a strong Mongolian supplier base. These programmes will help drive economic growth for generations to come.
Oyu Tolgoi’s core commitment is to a safe work place and setting a new standard in environmental care.
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