AMEC awarded Oyu Tolgoi underground mining project in Mongolia

Tuesday, Nov 16, 2010

AMEC, the international engineering and project management company, has been commissioned by Oyu Tolgoi LLC to undertake the feasibility study for Lift 1 of the underground Hugo North block cave operation of its copper and gold mining project in Mongolia.

Oyu Tolgoi is the world’s largest undeveloped copper-gold project and is located in the South Gobi region of Mongolia, approximately 80 kilometres north of the Mongolia-China border. When Oyu Tolgoi moves into full production, it will be one of the world’s top three copper-gold mines.

The value of AMEC’s contract has not been announced.

Over the next 25 months, AMEC will work with Oyu Tolgoi’s engineering team to develop designs, specifications, cost estimates and a construction schedule for an 85,000 tonnes-per-day block cave operation.

Neil Bruce, Executive Director of AMEC, said: “This contract is a great example of AMEC working for a key customer in the important underground mining sector, a core activity in our Vision 2015 business strategy.”

Matt Gili, Chief Operating Officer for Oyu Tolgoi said: “The high grades of the underground mine make its design a crucial part of realising the value from the project over the longterm, for all stakeholders. We look forward to working with AMEC and itspartners in delivering this value.”

Bob Stanlake, President of AMEC’s Mining & Metals business added: “Being selected to perform the Oyu Tolgoi feasibility study is an important step in AMEC’s strategy to become a preferred global supplier of underground study and EPCM services in the mining sector. Oyu Tolgoi recognises thevalue of our skills and practical experience along with strong performance in previous study work for them.”

To support in the delivery of this complex project, AMEC has partnered with RSV of South Africa for shaft engineering, AC-Tek for dynamic simulation of underground conveyors and Analytical Laboratory Consultants for laboratory service design.

Source: AMEC