The Thiess–Khishig Arvin joint venture (TKAJV) is set to provide mining services to Rio Tinto’s Oyu Tolgoi project, one of the largest known copper-gold deposits in the world.
Under the new three-year contract, TKAJV will execute underground support and development work via more than 300 Thiess personnel, allowing TKAJV to expand its scope of work and continue delivering safe and effective services to Oyu Tolgoi.
“Securing this contract not only reaffirms our strong relationship with Oyu Tolgoi – it also demonstrates our commitment to excellence in service delivery, and our ongoing commitment to Mongolia, where we’ve operated since establishing in 2007,” Thiess executive chair and chief executive officer Michael Wright said.
“Our track record of safe and reliable underground performance has been key to earning the trust of our client and stakeholders, and we look forward to building on this success as we re-enter the main mining operations at Oyu Tolgoi.”
TKAJV was first created in 2016, when it commenced the ongoing Oyu Tolgoi boxcut and decline project.
According to Thiess, the boxcut will provide a safe and secure entrance for the underground tunnels and conveyors expanding over 10km and depths of up to 1.3km, and the twin declines will provide up to 395m of vertical lift, with a maximum gradient of 18 per cent.
The conveyor to surface declines comprise 16.6km of tunnels and 35,000m3 of large excavations to house the required conveyor transfer and drive stations.
Thiess Group executive Asia Cluny Randell said the new contract for TKAJV is a testament to the team’s hard work and dedication.
“Since starting the Oyu Tolgoi boxcut and decline project in 2016, we’ve consistently delivered safe and innovative solutions, with a strong focus on the development of our people,” Randell said.
“A contract of this scale in the main mine is a huge achievement and positions us for future growth at Oyu Tolgoi and in Mongolia.”
Oyu Tolgoi is located in the Umnugovi province of South Gobi and recently saw a 19 per cent production increase compared to the September 2023 quarter. Rio Tinto credited the growth to the ramp-up in production and higher grade from the underground mine.