Ukhaa Khudag UHG Coal Mine

The Ukhaa Khudag Coal Mine in Mongolia’s south Gobi Desert is the most remote mine site in the Thiess global mining portfolio.

Started from nothing in 2008, the mine is now fully established and producing high-quality metallurgical coal, having undergone one of the longest mobilisation operations in the world. Due to the remote location 600 km south of Mongolia’s capital Ulaanbaatar, the haul truck fleet had to be assembled at a border town in China and driven for three and a half days across the desert to reach the mine site.

Extreme weather where severe dust storms prevail in summer and winter temperatures routinely reach minus 40 degrees Celsius, presents significant challenges to the workforce and fleet. Successfully managing such extremes demonstrates our capability in mobilising and operating remote mine sites and our unwavering commitment to our client and the community.

Wherever possible our team utilises the local workforce and up-skills them by providing training in operations, mine planning and supervisory roles.

Thiess is responsible for all mining operations at Ukhaa Khudag Coal Mine including pit de-watering, drill and blast, removing overburden, loading and hauling coal, mine planning, engineering and fleet operation and maintenance.