Oyu Tolgoi

Mongolia's Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold mine, under construction by Rio Tinto in the South Gobi Desert, is the biggest economic undertaking in the country's history. Taxes, royalties and dividends generated by the Oyu Tolgoi project is expected to add a third to the country's gross domestic product by 2020.

When Oyu Tolgoi starts operating in 2012 Mongolia will be set on a path to become one of the world's top copper and gold producers. Average annual production of 450,000 tonnes of copper and 330,000 ounces of gold are forecast. With 1.4 billion tonnes of reserves and a resource of 3.1 billion tonnes the mine will last for more than 50 years.

Rio Tinto has already invested almost US$2 million in environmental, social, and community projects and will continue to help contribute to the country's sustainable development.

Our vision in developing and operating Oyu Tolgoi is to safely deliver, on schedule and budget, and firmly aligned with Rio Tinto's sustainable development strategy, values and standards for excellence. The construction workforce at Oyu Tolgoi is expected to be at over 14,000. At least 90 per cent of full time jobs will go to Mongolian nationals once operations are under way.

US$85 million has been committed for education and training projects and programs through to 2015. These include building training facilities and training 3,300 Mongolians in mining. Local businesses will benefit by between US$500 million and US$800 million a year selling goods and services to the mine.