Erdenet Mining Corporation SOE (Mongolia) Is Interested in Training Personnel for New Copper Smelter at INRTU
At Irkutsk National Research Technical University, discussions were held regarding the possibility of accelerated personnel training for the copper smelter being built in Mongolia, which will be located within industrial and technological park “Complex of Mining, Metallurgical and Chemical industry” based on “Erdenet Mining Corporation” SOE. The meeting was initiated by Dr. Tech. Sci. Khookhoryn Badamsuren, an INRTU graduate and former head of leading Mongolian companies “Mongolrostsvetmet” SOE and “Erdenet Mining Corporation” SOE.
President of the Mongolian Academy of Mining Sciences, Dr. Khookhoryn Badamsuren stated that to increase its contribution to Mongolia's economic and social development, Erdenet Mining Corporation is implementing a series of large-scale projects, one of which is the copper smelter plant.
“For operating the copper smelter plant, we will require highly skilled chemists and metallurgists. We are ready to discuss various formats of accelerated training with INRTU, including retraining our mining and beneficiation specialists.
The plant will be built near the concentrating plant at the “Erdenetiin-Ovoo” deposit. Currently, under the leadership of the General Director of Erdenet Mining Corporation, Mr. Yondon Gelen (an INRTU graduate), and the necessary infrastructure for the future plant is being prepared. Connection to water supply and electricity networks has been ensured,” stated Khookhoryn Badamsuren.
INRTU was represented in the discussion by Rector Mikhail Korniakov, Vice-Rector for International Affairs Stepan Bykov, Director of the School of Subsurface Resource Management Aleksei Shevchenko, Head of the Department of Mine Surveying and Geodesy Aleksandr Zagibalov, and Head of the Intersectoral Regional Center of Professional Development and Retraining of Specialists (IRСPD) Andrei Larionov.
“For training Mongolian chemists and metallurgists, INRTU can assemble a teaching staff fluent in English and organize group or individual training. We are also ready to send instructors to Mongolia so as not to take the company's employees away from their work,” said Stepan Bykov.
According to Andrei Larionov, Head of IRСPD, based on higher education or vocational education, mastering a new professional field is possible through professional retraining, which requires a minimum of 250 hours (4-6 months).
It should be noted that INRTU has long served as a training ground for Mongolia. Since 1961, the university has trained over 700 specialists for the country – geologists and mining engineers.
In different periods, three INRTU graduates led the Erdenet Mining Corporation: Shagdaryn Otgonbileg, Khookhoryn Badamsuren, and the current General Director, Yondon Gelen. Two of them – Shagdaryn Otgonbileg and Khookhoryn Badamsuren – have been awarded the title Hero of Labor of Mongolia. All three graduated from the university in the same specialty, “mining engineer-surveyor”.
Background:
“Erdenet Mining Corporation” SOE is engaged in ore mining and processing. Today, the enterprise processes up to 40 million tons of copper-molybdenum ore annually, producing about 530,000 tons of copper concentrate and nearly 4,500 tons of molybdenum concentrate. The company also produces cathode and foundry copper, copper wire, and flexible cables. The geological exploration division continues to prospect for new deposits. In terms of copper and molybdenum concentrate exports, Mongolia ranks among the top ten countries globally.
