Mining Journal Awards presented

By S.Bold-Erdene

The Mongolian Mining Journal Awards-2010 were presented at a glittering ceremony on December 24 at Monet restaurant in Central Tower. Among those present were Mineral Resources and Energy Minister D.Zorigt, Finance Minister S.Bayartsogt, MPs Z.Altai, O.Chuluunbat and Kh.Narankhuu, and representatives from mining companies and the media.  The awards were given in five categories, the winners having been chosen by a committee  comprising mining professionals, environment experts, and business management specialists.

MAC was named Explorer of the Year following its successful exploration of reserves of over 5.1 million tons of coal in 2010. The company has set a record in 86 years of mining history in Mongolia with its coal exploration, production and export figures.

The Best Mining Technology Award went to Erdenet Mining Corporation for the technological upgrading in its work on Copper Enriching Fabric. The use of modernised technology allowed the company to increased its ore exploration figures from four million tons to six million tons and to make a profit of USD3 million.

The most difficult choice for the selection committee was in the Green Mining category, which was ultimately claimed by Baganuur Coal Mining Company. The company has done technical reclamation on 137.5 hectares of land and biological reclamation on a further 119.2 hectares since 1997. The latter was 100% completed in 2010 with implementation of a project to protect animals around Baga Gun Lake near the Baganuur mine.

Energy Resources LLC won the Mine Development award, arguably the most prestigious recognition. The company constructed a road in the South Gobi region in 2010, built a power plant and had a successful IPO at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

The award for best Support to the Mining Industry was shared between two winners. The Mongolian National Mining Association was named as the best supporting organization while a majority in a public voting chose the Finance Minister as the best supporting individual.

The nominations were based on 300 votes collected from professional mining organizations and over 1,000 more online votes. MMJ invited 148 mining companies to submit nominations and 26 of them did so.  Among the companies nominated were Oyu Tolgoi, MoEnCO, SouthGobi Sands, and Boroo Gold,  and Tavan Talst, Bulgan Gangat, Tanan Impex, and Shijir Alt were among the junior companies nominated.

The Mining Journal Awards will be an annual feature to bring into the limelight those who are working under risks to develop Mongolia’s mining industry according to world standards. “This is the first time in the country that a public organization, neither a business house nor the Government, has instituted such awards in the mining sector, allowing the selection to be independent and to reflect the reality on the ground. Our goal is to change the popular attitude that mining is just about making money,” said Mrs. L.Bolormaa, Founder Editor of The Mongolian Mining Journal, in her opening speech.

“We should support all players in the mining sector to make healthy contribution to the nation’s growth. There must be a vision behind their work and the Mining Journal wishes to create a standard for this vision. This awards ceremony was organised without any sponsorship or monetary support of any kind from anybody,” she added.