The Thiess-Khishig Arvin Joint Venture (TKAJV) has secured a new contract to provide mining services at the Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold project in Mongolia.

This milestone is significant as it will see TKAJV return to underground mining services, building on its recent successes with numerous underground construction projects, following the development of the 6.5-km twin declines.

The scope of work for the three-year contract includes executing underground ground support and development work, using more than 300 Thiess people to undertake these works. This further cements TKAJV’s role as a trusted partner for high-quality mining services at Oyu Tolgoi, it says. This new chapter for Thiess in Mongolia presents a great opportunity for the joint venture to expand its scope of work and continue delivering safe and effective services to one of the largest copper projects in the world.

Thiess Executive Chair and CEO, Michael Wright, said: “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. 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.”

Thiess Group Executive Asia, Cluny Randell, said: “This new contract is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team on the ground. 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. 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.”

Thiess has been involved in multiple projects in Mongolia since 2007, including numerous projects with the TKAJV at Oyu Tolgoi.