Dayan blasted the last bench Jan. 13 after a lengthy shaft-sinking program that endured a number of prolonged work shutdowns at the project.

The milestone was “…made all the more impressive by the exceptional safety performance,” stated Turquois Hill Resources project director Michel Charron

Oyu Tolgoi’s 2 shaft is a combined skipping and service shaft which will support the early development and extraction activities at the South Hugo Dummett block cave mine.

Situated in the south Gobi Desert, DCM employed approximately 200 Mongolian nationals to make up 75 per cent of the shaft workforce in order to complete the construction project.

In addition to shaft sinking efforts, nearly 135,000 cubic metres of mass excavation has been completed in order to support the high tonnage installations yet to be completed.

The Dayan team is currently focusing on the installation of the 7.2-metres diameter production friction hoist and 6.75-metre diameter service hoist installation atop the concrete headframe, concurrent with shaft outfitting efforts.

Once complete, this installation will be one of the largest of its kind in the world, capable of hoisting 30,000 tons per day in rock, and transporting people and supplies via the 24.3-square-metre service cage.