Global miner Rio Tinto on Tuesday refuted suggestions that the underground mine development and financing plan (UDP) or any other foundational agreements for the Oyu Tolgoi mine, in Mongolia, were illegal.
This comes as the Administrative Court upheld claims by the Darkhan Mongol Nogoon Negdel nongovernmental organisation that the government of Mongolia did not follow due process in finalising the UDP.
Rio Tinto said that the court’s formal written ruling would be released in the coming weeks.
The Oyu Tolgoi mine is jointly owned by the government of Mongolia (34%) and Turquoise Hill (66%, of which Rio Tinto owns 51%). Rio Tinto is the operator of the project.
Toronto-listed Turquoise Hill issued a similar statement to that of Rio Tinto, refuting allegations.
The Oyu Tolgoi underground mine is expected to produce more than 500 000 t/y of copper, compared with current openpit production of 175 000 t/y to 200 000 t/y. The openpit mine was completed on schedule in less than 24 months and production started in 2013.