There is the phrase saying: “Better to see once than to hear 1000 times”. Oyu Tolgoi underground mine is located in 1300 m depth from the surface, which is a historical development not only in Mongolia but also in mining industry. As of today, Oyu Tolgoi has been processing copper concentrate from iron ore being exploited from its open-pit mine. The best part of mineral resources in OT’s reserve exists in the underground mine, which has 3-4 times more content. So, the underground mine has been established in order to exploit minerals with a block caving method of mining.
As the underground mine construction was being paused, we had an opportunity to visit into the depth to witness what we heard of 1000 times before.
The company organized the tour for journalists to deliver an accurate information about the development and explained that it is not necessary to prepare a report or column about the tour if you want.
Interestingly, the worker who has been there for seven years happened to visit the underground mine for the first time, with us, saying: “Everyone is not accepted to enter the underground. You are lucky. If the underground operations are underway, it is not allowed to receive visitors. If so, same number of the underground workers must be replaced to receive visitors. It is my firs time visit to the underground mine despite working at the company for seven years.”
Prior to entering the underground mine, visitors must receive safety instructions, oxygen mask and two ID cards for each. Each visitor must write down signature by proving he/she receives safety instructions and leave one of two ID cards before heading to the lift. Then, a visitor leaves the other ID card down at the underground mine’s entrance.
We spent approximately four minutes to reach the underground in 1300 m depth by riding the lift at 6m/s.
Surprisingly, I encountered 10-20 meter high tunnels, heavy machinery and huge lights. In other words, it was huge development.
Andrew Hooper, Manager for Oyu Tolgoi operations, guided us in the mine. Prioritizing safety issues, he first told us the location of the underground refuge, which is the closes place the underground workers must head to if ventilation system faces malfunction and any other incident happens. The underground refuge capable of accommodating 20 has supplies of water, oxygen, food and others. 146 workers are deployed daily and there are 20 refuges, so that it is enough to house all underground workers in the refuge.
Oyu Tolgoi LLC established 14 km long tunnel in the underground mine. Furthermore, we will safely transport minerals from the deepest part of the mine, with the establishment of 200 km long tunnel in 1300 me depth. Also, heavy machinery repair center, laundry place, office section, eatery, petroleum supply center and other developments will be established in order to ensure all needs of mining operations, said Andrew Hooper.
It is interesting how heavy machinery are transported into the underground mine. Oyu Tolgoi planned to construct five shafts in order to manage the underground operations. Shaft 1 and 2 are suitable for transporting heavy machinery, facilities and workers. For example, shaft 2 has three lifts: one is only for services and other two are for operations only.
The service lift is 9 meter long and 3 meter wide with capacity of 60 tons, suitable for transporting heavy machinery and facilities. The other lift is suitable for transporting people with the capacity of 300 people. Shaft 5 for example is for ventilation purpose only.
However, the proudest thing about the development is that thousands of Mongolian people contributed and got involved. Despite the underground development paused, workers initiated to build ground support such as installing latticework in the walls. Chris Lynch, Financial Director of Rio Tinto, praised the ground support work done by Mongolian workers while visiting the underground mine and suggested that it should be applied to other underground mines, said Andrew Hooper.
I was also disappointed while being proud of Mongolian workers. What you see is ID cards left by the underground mine workers at the entrance.
If the underground mine were underway, 146 would have left their ID cards. The underground mine works were halted in August 2016, hundreds of young ambitious workers were laid off. Over last two years, around 10 workers are employed in the underground mine in order to take care of heavy machinery and facilities. We are confident and always ready that the underground mine works are going to continue soon, said Andrew Hooper.
There is the phrase saying: “Better to see once than to hear 1000 times”. Oyu Tolgoi underground mine is located in 1300 m depth from the surface, which is a historical development not only in Mongolia but also in mining industry. As of today, Oyu Tolgoi has been processing copper concentrate from iron ore being exploited from its open-pit mine. The best part of mineral resources in OT’s reserve exists in the underground mine, which has 3-4 times more content. So, the underground mine has been established in order to exploit minerals with a block caving method of mining.
As the underground mine construction was being paused, we had an opportunity to visit into the depth to witness what we heard of 1000 times before.
The company organized the tour for journalists to deliver an accurate information about the development and explained that it is not necessary to prepare a report or column about the tour if you want.
Interestingly, the worker who has been there for seven years happened to visit the underground mine for the first time, with us, saying: “Everyone is not accepted to enter the underground. You are lucky. If the underground operations are underway, it is not allowed to receive visitors. If so, same number of the underground workers must be replaced to receive visitors. It is my firs time visit to the underground mine despite working at the company for seven years.”
Prior to entering the underground mine, visitors must receive safety instructions, oxygen mask and two ID cards for each. Each visitor must write down signature by proving he/she receives safety instructions and leave one of two ID cards before heading to the lift. Then, a visitor leaves the other ID card down at the underground mine’s entrance.
We spent approximately four minutes to reach the underground in 1300 m depth by riding the lift at 6m/s.
Surprisingly, I encountered 10-20 meter high tunnels, heavy machinery and huge lights. In other words, it was huge development.
Andrew Hooper, Manager for Oyu Tolgoi operations, guided us in the mine. Prioritizing safety issues, he first told us the location of the underground refuge, which is the closes place the underground workers must head to if ventilation system faces malfunction and any other incident happens. The underground refuge capable of accommodating 20 has supplies of water, oxygen, food and others. 146 workers are deployed daily and there are 20 refuges, so that it is enough to house all underground workers in the refuge.
Oyu Tolgoi LLC established 14 km long tunnel in the underground mine. Furthermore, we will safely transport minerals from the deepest part of the mine, with the establishment of 200 km long tunnel in 1300 me depth. Also, heavy machinery repair center, laundry place, office section, eatery, petroleum supply center and other developments will be established in order to ensure all needs of mining operations, said Andrew Hooper.
It is interesting how heavy machinery are transported into the underground mine. Oyu Tolgoi planned to construct five shafts in order to manage the underground operations. Shaft 1 and 2 are suitable for transporting heavy machinery, facilities and workers. For example, shaft 2 has three lifts: one is only for services and other two are for operations only.
The service lift is 9 meter long and 3 meter wide with capacity of 60 tons, suitable for transporting heavy machinery and facilities. The other lift is suitable for transporting people with the capacity of 300 people. Shaft 5 for example is for ventilation purpose only.
However, the proudest thing about the development is that thousands of Mongolian people contributed and got involved. Despite the underground development paused, workers initiated to build ground support such as installing latticework in the walls. Chris Lynch, Financial Director of Rio Tinto, praised the ground support work done by Mongolian workers while visiting the underground mine and suggested that it should be applied to other underground mines, said Andrew Hooper.
I was also disappointed while being proud of Mongolian workers. What you see is ID cards left by the underground mine workers at the entrance.
If the underground mine were underway, 146 would have left their ID cards. The underground mine works were halted in August 2016, hundreds of young ambitious workers were laid off. Over last two years, around 10 workers are employed in the underground mine in order to take care of heavy machinery and facilities. We are confident and always ready that the underground mine works are going to continue soon, said Andrew Hooper.