If there were any doubts after last year’s inaugural Mongolian Mining Journal Awards ceremony, the glittering evening of November 25, 2011 set them at rest. This is an annual event that has come to stay as a fixture in Ulaanbaatar’s social calendar, offering the public awareness of developments in the mineral sector, as also honouring the best and the brightest in the sector that will be the driver of the country’s economic growth for years to come.
The evening’s proceedings were set rolling by L.Bolormaa, founder and editor-in-chief of the Mongolian Mining Journal which has instituted the awards. She emphasised the dual role of the awards: to recognise and to disseminate the good work done in the mineral sector. The award evening, she said, was the culmination of what the Mongolian Mining Journal does on a monthly basis, without fear or favour.
The judges’ panel had the onerous task of evaluating competing claims from companies that had, in the preceding 12 months, taken high risks, worked hard, invested money and intellectual energy, and exercised management skills. The panel consisted of acknowledged authorities in the mineral sector: N.Algaa, Executive Director of the Mongolian National Mining Association; N.Batbayar, Chairman of the Environment, Tourism, Geology and Mining Department in the State Specialised Investigation Agency; Professor Dr D.Dondov, Chairman of the Geophysical Mapping Department at the University of Science and Technology and a consultant; Merited Worker of Industry, MP Kh.Narankhuu; Professor Dr B.Purevtogtokh, Director of the Mineral Institute of the University of Science and Technology; G.Sharkhuu, Chairman of the Processing Association; D.Enkhbat, Chairman of Environment and Natural Resources Department at the Ministry of Environment; D.Tserenjav, Coordinator of Transparency Fund; and B.Galsandorj, Chairman of the Mongolian Exporters’ Association. Dr Dondov spoke on behalf of the panel and explained how they had approached the task.
The first award to be announced was for
the Best Mine. The shortlist featured Tavan Tolgoi LC, Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi LC, Energy Resource’s Ukhaa Khudag, and Erdenet Mining Corporation. The winner was Erdenet Mining Corporation for its open pit mining operation. They received a trophy made of natural moss agate and Nuance Pop-opera group performed a song as a present. (A few days later, Erdenet engineers and technical workers were conferred a state award, which confirmed their technical distinction. In a media interview following this presentation, Ch.Ganzorig, General Director of Erdenet Mining Corporation, mentioned its selection by MMJ as the Best Mine.)
At the awards evening, he thanked the MMJ for its recognition of the good work done by Erdenet and said the company was very successful this year. Apart from the state award, it had also been adjudged the Best Producer of the world. “All these awards are the result of hard work by our team,” he said, adding, “Geological conditions in Mongolia are now becoming even more difficult, after 30 years of mining. Every passing year means one has to dig deeper to get at the ore and the metal grade is also getting drastically poorer.”
The challenge in the developing situation was to maintain and increase profitability. “This called for both technical renovation and technological innovation. Our success can be gauged by the fact that we made a profit of around USD60 million last year. This attests to the skills and capacity of local engineers. The technology that they designed for use in Erdenet can be fruitfully applied at OT and TT. Also, it is not copper-specific, but is equally suitable for mining other types of metals.” Ganzorig concluded by thanking MMJ for raising popular awareness of the hard work needed and done in professional mining.
There were six possible winners for the
award for Responsible Mining. The final announcement saw Energy Resource, Mongolyn Alt and Sharyn Gol take the first three places, in that order. All present, including those who missed out, admitted the justice of the choice. The winner’s trophy presented to Energy Resource was made of agate.
Quite a large number of companies had been nominated for
the Best Eco Mining award and the judges’ choice fell on Peabody Winsway Resources, Energy Resource and Oyu Tolgoi LLC as the top three, in that order. The selection was hailed as a true indication of companies’ success in conducting environmentally friendly operations. Peabody Winsway Resources took home a trophy made of blue chalcedony. The melody Winter was performed by Jonon to congratulate all companies that successfully combined mining production with ecological sensitivity.
The Best Technology award received 13 nominations, the largest in any category. The judges chose Tavan Talst, Erdmin and Mera as the top three, in that order. The winner’s trophy awarded to Tavan Talst was made of moss agate. The company was honoured for its coal drying technology, which faced strong competition from Erdmin’s pioneering work in value added production. Erdmin products are much in demand in the domestic market.
Hunnu Coal pipped QGX and MT Drilling to the post to win The Best Exploration Company award. Yu.Ariunsaikhan, Operations Director of ZaMine Services presented a trophy made of natural agate and pure crystal to the winner. The field had included several foreign-invested companies and MT Drilling, a Mongolian invested company, was happy to have been shortlisted in recognition of its successful handling of a number of projects in a short time.
No company can work without support from different sources.
The Best Supporter award was meant for an individual or an organization that provided the most effective support to the mineral sector, by way of technical work, research or funding. An opinion poll was taken among mineral sector professionals and research institutions over one month, and this was complemented by online public voting organized through two of Mongolia’s most popular websites, www.news.mn and www.gogo.mn. There was very good response to the online voting, indicating public appreciation of significant contribution to the right development of the mineral sector.
Two awards were given.
The Most Supportive Individual of the Year was found to be D.Zorigt, Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, who won 56% of the 720 votes cast. He was followed by the first President of Mongolia, P.Ochirbat and J.Odjargal, Board Chairman of Energy Resource.
The Best Supporting Organization award went to Trade and Development Bank which had received 23% of the total votes cast by the general public, professionals, and representatives of civil society. TDB last year spent MNT500 million in supporting mining events and conferences. A senior executive of the bank, O.Orkhon, was presented with a trophy made of chalcedony and crystal.
A special Grand Prix was awarded to Energy Resources LLC in recognition of the widespread appreciation of its achievement at every stage of mining production, thus contributing to the power of the engine of the country’s development. A Garuda made of a natural precious stone was the insignia chosen, the mythical bird symbolising the soaring international rep utation of Mongolia.
This year, there were considerably more nominations for the Mining Journal Awards than last year. One reason for this is the faith that the choices will be independent and fair, and will not be made under pressure from any state organization or to further any vested interest. The role of public opinion and of unbiased professional organizations has also been noted with admiration.
Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi, Mongolyn Alt and Oyu Tolgoi will begin production in the next few years, along with many national companies. We hope the competition will be wider and stronger next year.
Among those who attended the ceremony were Minister D.Zorigt; MP R.Amarjargal; D.Davaasambuu, Advisor to the Parliament Speaker; B.Bailikhu, Advisor to the State Property Commission; D.Batbaatar, Plenipotentiary Government Representative; S.Bayaraa, Ambassador of Mongolia to India; Victor Vasilyevich Samoilenko, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Mongolia; Philip der Voort, Resident Representative of EBRD in Mongolia; B.Bold, Board chairman of the Mongolian Stock Exchange; Bill Gorman, its President; Graeme Hancock, Deputy Director of Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi LLC; G.Batsukh, Board Chairman of Oyu Tolgoi LLC; Ch.Ganbold, member of Oyu Tolgoi LLC Board; and Cameron McRae, Chief Executive of Oyu Tolgoi LLC. They and a host of other dignitaries helped make it a memorable evening, whetting the appetite for the event next year.
O.Khostsetseg