The heavy machinery operators team at the Oyu Tolgoi open pit has 180 employees. Only two of them are women. Let us introduce them.
Solongo Gurbazar is from Tseel soum of Gobi-Altai aimag. She has worked at the mine for four years now.
Oyunchuluun Luisuren is a native of Umnugovi aimag and has been working at Oyu Tolgoi since 2004. They are the first two female drivers at the open pit. Operators work in three shifts at the mine. Both Solongo and Oyunchuluun work for 28 days at the mine, 14 days on the day shift and the remaining 14 on the night shift. Each shift involves 18-25 runs, so each day one operator transports between 5,220 and 7,750 tonnes of ore.
Solongo and Oyunchuluun both drive gigantic Komatsu 930E haul trucks, powerful machines used in Mongolia only at the Oyu Tolgoi open pit mine. Each truck weighs 500 tonnes and can transport up to 310 tonnes of ore. It is more than eight metres wide, 15 metres long and more than seven metres from the ground. This powerful machine has an oil engine and electric wheel drive. It is very quiet, easy to drive and the driver’s cabin is well protected and comfortable. Komatsu 930E drivers have to undergo special training every year to renew their driving licenses.
“The job is tough but we have never thought of giving up” they said. Both their husbands also work as heavy machinery operators at the open pit. Their monthly wage is also quite good. Since both the families live and work together at the mine they do not have to worry about their household chores. The mine management have also given them the same work shifts to help them balance their life and work.
Driving these gigantic trucks, transporting ore and unloading them at the primary crusher is a very responsible task which requires constant alertness as safety is the core concern at all areas of Oyu Tolgoi.
“The job is physically demanding for women, but we are really proud sitting behind the wheels of one of the largest vehicles in the world. When we first arrived here, there was no open pit, concentrator or belt conveyor. But all this mega construction work was carried out in a very short span of time and now we are mining and processing ore and exporting concentrate earning revenue for all stakeholders. This is truly remarkable, especially now that Oyu Tolgoi is transitioning from the construction phase to an operating business. We really have reasons to feel proud”, Solongo and Oyuchuluun said with great satisfaction in their voice.
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