Oyu Tolgoi Copper Gold Project/Mine | copper mine, gold mine

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Oyu Tolgoi is the world's largest undeveloped copper-gold project and is located in the South Gobi region of Mongolia, approximately 550 km south of the capital, Ulaanbaatar, and 80 km north of the Mongolia-China border.

On March 31, 2010, the Mongolian Government confirmed that the procedural and administrative conditions contained in the Investment Agreement had been satisfied within the allocated six-month period that has followed the agreement's official signing in October 2009. The comprehensive Investment Agreement now has taken full legal effect.

On October 6, 2009, Ivanhoe Mines and Rio Tinto signed a long-term, comprehensive Investment Agreement with the Government of Mongolia for the construction and operation of the Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold mining complex. The agreement creates a partnership between the Mongolian Government -- which will acquire a 34% interest in the project -- and Ivanhoe Mines, which will retain a controlling 66% interest in Oyu Tolgoi. Global miner Rio Tinto, which joined Ivanhoe Mines as a strategic partner three years ago, presently holds a 29.6% interest in Ivanhoe Mines.

Based on Ivanhoe Mines' discoveries at Oyu Tolgoi during the past nine years, independently verified estimates indicate that Oyu Tolgoi contains approximately 81 billion pounds of copper and 46 million ounces of gold in measured, indicated and inferred resources.

Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold complex construction progressing ahead of schedule for initial production in late 2012. Full-scale mine construction is underway at the Oyu Tolgoi Project. Production of the first concentrate is expected in late 2012, with a build up to the start of commercial production in 2013. The Project initially is being developed as an open-pit operation, with mining starting at the near-surface Southern Oyu deposits. A copper concentrator plant, related facilities and necessary infrastructure supporting an initial throughput of 100,000 tonnes of ore per day are being constructed to process the ore mined in the open pit. Mining of ore from the Southern Oyu open pit is scheduled to begin in Q3'12, to provide feed for the commissioning of the concentrator.

An 85,000-tonne-per-day underground block-cave mining operation also is being developed at the Hugo North Deposit, with initial production expected to begin in 2015. The throughput capacity of the concentrator plant is expected to be expanded when the underground mine begins production.

Fluor Corporation is in charge of overall Oyu Tolgoi program management, as well as services related to engineering, procurement and construction management for the ore processing plant and mine-related infrastructure such as roads, water supply, a regional airport and administration buildings.

Approximately 41,000 cubic metres of concrete had been poured by the end of Q3'10 for the foundations for the concentrator building, the foundations for the two 38-foot-diameter, semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mills and four ball mills, the pebble-crusher building and the ore-reclaim tunnels. Work also continued with the excavations for the tailings-thickening ponds and the preparation of the storage yard for the mechanical equipment. Erection of the structural steel for the concentrator building has begun and the major contract for the mechanical, electrical and piping work for the concentrator has been awarded. Surface excavation work for the primary crusher also has commenced.

Detailed engineering for the ore concentrator was 83% complete at the end of Q3'10. Key construction activities planned for Q4'10 include completing the pouring of concrete for the pebble-crusher building and continuation of the erection of structural steel for the concentrator building.

During Q3'10, Oyu Tolgoi LLC concluded the competitive bidding process for the main infrastructure works, which include on-site infrastructure required to support the mine operations and the 70-kilometre water pipeline to supply the concentrator. Construction of the pipeline is expected to start in early 2011.

A dual-circuit, 220-kilovolt electrical transmission line from a Chinese substation to Oyu Tolgoi is being designed, with a target construction completion date of late 2012. The power line is expected to provide the electricity for the initial mine operating period. Contracts for the road and power line are expected to be awarded early in 2011.

Pre-stripping of open-pit mine expected to begin in mid-2011

The open-pit operation is on schedule to begin pre-stripping of the Southern Oyu deposits in mid-2011, with first ore deliveries to the concentrator expected during Q3'12. Work is continuing on the selection and optimization of the open-pit mining fleet; the tender is expected to be awarded during Q4'10.

Underground development of Hugo North Mine proceeding ahead of schedule:

The development of the first lift of the underground block-cave mine at the Hugo North Deposit continued successfully during Q3'10. Lateral mine development on the 1,300-metre level at the Hugo North underground deposit is ahead of schedule, with a year-to-date advance of 2,503 metres, well ahead of the planned advance of 2,325 metres. More than 5,000 metres of underground development off Shaft #1 has been completed to date.

Raise-bore drilling for the first of two ventilation shafts near Shaft #1 continued, with a successful breakthrough of the pilot hole for the first lift of the raise (from the 512-metre level to surface) and commencement of the pilot hole for the second lift of the raise (from the 1,300-metre level to the 512-metre level). Completion of the ventilation borehole will increase ventilation capacity at the 1,300-metre level and allow for the introduction of two additional underground development crews and equipment, expected in Q3'11.

The design and engineering of the Shaft #2 headframe has been finalized. Construction of a 97-metre-tall (approximately 31-storey), reinforced-concrete headframe for Shaft #2 is progressing to plan. The structure for the Shaft #2 conveyor tunnel is nearing completion and the ventilation plenum structure has been completed.

The sinking platform for Shaft #2 arrived at site and sinking of the 10-metre-diameter shaft is expected to begin in Q3'11. Shaft #2, with a planned final depth of 1,335 metres below surface, will be the main service shaft for the underground Hugo North block-cave mine. Shaft #2 also will be used as the initial production shaft to hoist the Hugo North ore to the surface.

The underground development from Shaft #1 is expected to connect with the bottom of Shaft #2 in early 2013 and production from the first lift of the Hugo North block-cave mine is scheduled to commence in 2015.

A 50-year assurance of stability

Given the extent of the discoveries associated with the Oyu Tolgoi Project and the potential for additional discoveries, Ivanhoe Mines and the Government of Mongolia agreed that the Investment Agreement should conform with the provision of Mongolia's current Minerals Law specifying that certain deposits of strategic importance qualify for 30 years of stabilized tax rates and regulatory provisions, with an option of extending the term of the Investment Agreement for an additional 20 years.

Major taxes and rates stabilized for the life of the agreement include: corporate income tax; customs duty; value-added tax; excise tax; royalties; exploration and mining licences; and immovable property and/or real estate tax.

IMMI will receive a 10% investment tax credit on all capital expenditures and investments made throughout the initial Oyu Tolgoi construction period. Any future taxes introduced will not be imposed on the project unless future legislation is more favourable, in which case Ivanhoe Mines may request the more favourable treatment. If Mongolia enters a tax or bilateral treaty that provides greater benefits to the investor, Ivanhoe Mines may request the benefit of such law, regulation or treaty to help ensure that a stable taxation and operating environment is maintained.

Reference for information:
www.ivanhoemines.com/s/Oyu_Tolgoi.asp?ReportID=379189
www.ivanhoemines.com/s/Oyu_Tolgoi.asp?ReportID=379190
www.ivanhoemines.com/s/Oyu_Tolgoi.asp?ReportID=379191

Reference for the filing of form 6-K (detailed information):
google.brand.edgar-online.com/EFX_dll/EDGARpro.dll?Fetc...

More information:
www.ivanhoe-mines.com/i/pdf/IDP_ExecutiveSummary.pdf