Oyu Tolgoi has started shipping copper concentrate to customers from its copper and gold mine in Mongolia.
The shipping of concentrate is the culmination of a three-year, US$6.2 billion project to build the first phase of one of the world’s top five copper mines.
Rio Tinto Copper chief executive Jean-Sebastien Jacques said “It has taken the vision and hard work of thousands of people to get to this point, where we are starting to convert the rich resources beneath the desert into real wealth and opportunity for all stakeholders, including the Mongolian people.
“Oyu Tolgoi starts production at a time when undeveloped quality copper assets are scarce and the outlook for copper continues to be strong. With continued development, Oyu Tolgoi will generate wealth for many decades to come.”
All permits for exporting copper concentrate are in place, together with Oyu Tolgoi Board approvals, and authorities required for continued concentrate sales.
Oyu Tolgoi remains committed to maintaining transparency in its operations and managing export revenues consistent with the Investment Agreement.
OT facts
Ownership
Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi (66 per cent) and Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi (34 per cent). Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi is wholly owned by the Government of Mongolia. Rio Tinto holds a 51 per cent share of Turquoise Hill Resources.
Production
Average annual production over 20 years from open pit and underground mine (development subject to Board approvals):
• Copper 430,000 tonnes
• Gold 425,000 ounces
Mine facts
• The copper concentrator is the largest industrial plant ever built in Mongolia. It contains enough steel (23,098 tonnes) to build three Eiffel Towers and enough cable (581km) to stretch from the mine to Ulaanbaatar
• The open pit mine will be deep enough to stack the Great Pyramid of Giza on top of itself four times
• The deepest underground shaft is eight times deeper than the English Channel
• The overland ore conveyer is the same length as the Golden Gate Bridge
Economic benefits
• US$1.1 billion – taxes and payments to the Government of Mongolia through June 2013
• US$1.1 billion – products and services purchased from Mongolian supplier companies in 2010-2012
Employees and training
• 10,888 – number of Mongolians employed at Oyu Tolgoi project as of 30 April 2013
• 89.25 – percentage of Mongolian employees at Oyu Tolgoi project as of 30 April 2013
• 90 per cent – committed percentage figure of Mongolian employees to work at Oyu Tolgoi during the operation
• No less than 70 per cent – Mongolian engineers during operation
• US$126 million – investment by Oyu Tolgoi in education and training in Mongolia
• 6,600 – trainees across Mongolia with Oyu Tolgoi financial support
About Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and New York Stock Exchange listed company, and Rio Tinto Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.
Rio Tinto’s business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. Major products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, thermal and metallurgical coal, uranium, gold, industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide and salt) and iron ore. Activities span the world and are strongly represented in Australia and North America with significant businesses in Asia, Europe, Africa and South America.