Mining Journal Awards-2011

One reason mining conferences and forums are proliferating is that more and more professional event organisers are getting into the act to make money. This is what N.Algaa, Executive Director of the Mongolian National Mining Association, told MMJ, as he recalled that in June alone, there were three coal conferences in Ulaanbaatar. This is just another example of how the expansion of mining in Mongolia gives to many an opportunity to make money. It is a pity that the  widespread popular perception in the country also is that mining is only about and all about making money.  

The Mongolian Mining Journal Awards, instituted last year, went a long way towards disabusing people’s mind of this negative notion. Not merely did the recipients represent the best in the industry, their selection was also a departure from processes associated with similar awards where competitors spend money on raising their profile and chances.

The MMJ awards are kept free of any whiff of manipulation as the selection is entirely the responsibility of a panel constituting independent professionals. The identity of the winners is revealed only at the awards ceremony, and no money is charged from any company for attendance. The jury chooses the winner in the following categories:      

- Explorer of the Year
- Mine Developer of the Year
- Green Miner of the Year
- Best user of Mining Technology.

The recipient of the last award is for the Best  Provider of Support to the Mining Industry and in this case, the choice is made on the basis of results of popular voting. People have one month to submit their choice.   

Details of the selection process for the Mongolian Mining Journal Awards 2011will be available on www.mongolianminingjournal.com,  www.news.mn, and www.gogo.mn. Information will be sent to companies. Our Hugjil TV shows, broadcast on Channel One every Sunday, will give details of the competition. All information about last year’s selection can be found in www.mongolianminingjournal.com.

It is not fortuitous that we are announcing the second edition of our awards to coincide with Discover Mongolia 2011, the country’s most popular mining event. The awards not merely acknowledge excellence but also makes it incumbent on the winners to continue their good work, thus contributing to responsible mining in Mongolia. In this, our goal is the same as that of  Discover Mongolia. This forum’s importance and uniqueness lies not just in bringing together the largest number of investors and offering them a platform to exchange views, but also in stressing the imperatives of responsibility and transparency in mining sector. This convergence of goals gives more meaning to the MMJ’s work as the media partner of Discover Mongolia 2011. 

L.Bolormaa