L.Naranbaatar, General Director, Glogex LLC: Our company participated in last year’s event also and I see that the scope has expanded considerably. The presence of state policy makers, noted economists, Ambassadors, representatives of international organisations, executives of major companies and investment corporations shows how much prestige the awards has come to command.
The mineral sector is the mainstay of the Mongolian economy and it has been growing steadily for the last few years. Once OT, TT and other major projects start operations, the economy will take a leap forward. The Prime Minister has said the economy is expected to grow by 24% this year and at the same rate next year. This growth is mainly contributed by the mineral sector, which creates jobs directly and, by making substantial investments, indirectly offers economic opportunities to many more.
Against this backdrop, it is no surprise that the event organized by the Mongolian Mining Journal, whose reputation is growing not only in Mongolia but also elsewhere in Asia, should generate so much interest. There is a general tendency to demonise the mineral sector but those who follow the proceedings here will know how wrong that is. The event provides the opportunity to promote the good work done by mining companies, and will encourage state organizations to cooperate with them. I feel that the evening’s chief value will be the contribution it makes to development of responsible mining in its real sense.
L.Bolormaa, Editor-in-Chief, Mongolian Mining Journal: This year we wrote to 170 foreign and local companies to join the selection process and 56 of them were shortlisted. The competition has been fierce. Compared to last year, most companies have made considerable progress. They have not just increased their productivity but have also shown a significant sense of social responsibility. I can tell you the evaluators had a tough job but they stuck to the task, displaying admirable sagacity and independence in reaching their final decisions.
Everybody has been struck by the changes from last year’s event. These faithfully reflect the changes that have taken place in the mineral sector itself. For example, last year few companies were in the running for the best technology award, while this year we had as many as 13 nominations, all with a strong claim. We are not swayed by size, so a number of small and medium scale companies threw their hats in the ring.
G.Battsengel, Executive Director of Energy Resources LLC: Last year, our company attended the event as a young company that had started operations only in 2009. We were impressed by how professional and independent the judges were and how well they recognised the true worth of the advanced technology used in the coal sector by a Mongolian company. It was a encouragement for our team.
All our targets in 2011 are being achieved. Our coal output target was 7 million tons, and as of today, we have extracted 6.3 million tons. June saw our company launch Mongolia’s first coal concentration plant. It has a capacity of 5 million tons per year and we are applying advanced technology. In addition, work on construction of a 247-km heavy duty road towards Gashuunsukhait was completed this year.
B.Baatar, Executive Director, Peabody Winsway Resources LLC: Our company is a subsidiary of U.S.-based Peabody Energy, which has 125 years of experience and is the top coal company of the world. It has the world’s best record in safety and rehabilitation. Over 100 Mongolians worked for two years as a team on the rehabilitation project here, following our own experience and using our own technology. As a result, the area where coal was mined has been completely rehabilitated. The surface shows total technical and biological rehabilitation and there is constant monitoring. A lot of grass is growing in the rehabilitated area and the water is regarded as the purest by locals. Every month, samples are taken for laboratory testing. The results consistently show that the well water and other environmental indicators are totally safe for both animals and plants. This is a most outstanding achievement and we are proud the rehabilitation was appropriate to the surrounding environment. I hope other companies will replicate our success.
D.Zorigt, Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy: The goal of the Ministry is to support the mineral sector. If the Ministry did not do the work, it means it did not work properly as stipulated by law. This year marked a special event in the mineral sector. For the last 30 years, the Mongolian economy was dependent on Erdenet copper export, while in 2011, coal overtook copper for the first time and made around USD1 billion in sales. The mineral sector contributed over MNT400 billion towards the Human Development Fund and the state budget. In addition, for the first time in history, iron ore export reached a high level.
All these landmarks were long anticipated by all of us and we all -- the state, investors, private business and the public -- worked together and hard to achieve them. The Oyu Tolgoi project has finished more than 50% of construction and Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi has started mining. Ukhaa Khudag, Tavan Tolgoi LC and others are working full speed. All who are in this hall now have a success story to be proud of. They all worked hard and energetically. I received the award for the Best Supportive Individual of the Year but this I did on behalf of all of you. The Government and the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy will continue do everything to develop the mineral sector.
O.Orkhon, CEO of Trade and Development Bank of Mongolia: Our bank offered direct loans not only to mineral sector companies, but also to contractors such as drilling companies, equipment suppliers, traders and suppliers. These loans amount to around MNT300 billion and are 30% of our total portfolio. In addition, the Bank sponsored investment and other important mining events held in Mongolia and abroad and I thank the judges for selecting us as the Best Supporting Organisation.
It is gratifying to see so many companies nominated for awards in eco mining, responsible mining, best technology and best exploration. I hope they will all improve their operations and contribute more to environmental and social responsibility.
Sh.Lkhamsuren, Executive Director of Mondulaan LLC: I’m glad that our company nominated itself for an award in the Eco Mining category. One of the basics of responsible mining is environmentally friendly operation. Our company works on technical renovation along with the mining. That is immediately followed by biological rehabilitation.
S.Batkhishig, Director of Tavan Talst LLC: I’m happy we won an award for the coal drying technology that we applied in Shivee Ovoo. This was an innovation in Mongolia. We also operate a 2,000-m conveyor system that produces little noise and dust. We also use a new technology in coal loading in the warehouse that was developed in the USA and Australia. Several such innovations have been introduced in Shivee Ovoo coal mine in the last 2 years. Last year also we hoped to win an award for Best Technology, but the project was not complete at that time. I can see that many other new companies in Mongolia are introducing new technology and I think things will get very exciting.
I thank the Mongolian Mining Journal for its significant contribution to society by providing it with mineral sector information. Today’s event also reveals the current development level of the sector.
T.Lkhagvadorj, Director General of Hunnu Coal LLC: I thank the team of the Mongolian Mining Journal, judges and others, who voted and evaluated the exploration undertaking of our team. Since its establishment, our company has been investing in coal exploration companies and the exploration funds were made with foreign investment. The company also contracted over 20 Mongolian companies in drilling, geological, geophysical and other services. As a result, our company identified around 850 million tons of reserves by JORC, which means that it increased Mongolia’s coal reserves by around 1 billion tons. I thank our team, professionals and cooperating organizations.
Responsib le mining is an important concept. I can clearly see that the Mongolian Mining Journal has initiated a lot of work. The journal’s quality and contents are highly appreciated by the public. I’m a subscriber to the journal. Its assessment of the performance of companies in spheres of economic and ecological responsibility means that certain standards are being established, and examples are being set for other companies to perform even better.
D.Davaasambuu, Advisor to Parliament Speaker: This event organized by the Mongolian Mining Journal for the last two years is contributing considerably to setting the mineral sector in the right direction. It offers the opportunity to introduce the best technology of the world to Mongolia and present mining sector practices to the Mongolian public. I congratulate Editor-in-Chief L.Bolormaa and her team on behalf of all attendees.
Prof Dr D.Dondov, Science and Technology University, and judge of Mining Journal Awards: The best companies are being awarded for the second year by the Mongolian Mining Journal at a time of high expectations from the mineral sector. Many production and manufacturing companies, and businesses participated in the event actively and competed for awards in one or more of five categories: The Best Mining, The Most Responsible Mining, The Best Technology, The Best Eco Mining, and The Best Exploration.
We on the judges’ panel worked very hard. With so much interesting and quality material to choose from, it was not easy to decide who was better than whom.
D.Ganbat, Director of Trade Affairs, Erdenet Mining Corporation: During the 30 years of its operation, Erdenet Mining Corporation has always been the pioneer and the best. It has been selected as the best this time as well. Our open pit mine has been termed one of the top five in the world by an international organization, mainly because we are more cost efficient than other similar mines. I’m happy that the corporation has now been selected as the best by the Mining Journal.