The diversified mining company Rio Tinto $RIO (-2.04%) has officially opened the South Gobi Underground Mass Mining Institute (SGUMMI) at its Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in collaboration with the University of Queensland.
Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa visited the institute and emphasized its importance in promoting mining education and workforce development.
SGUMMI aims to close the growing skills gap in the mining industry by offering a comprehensive training program for local and international mining professionals. The declining number of first-year students in mining engineering has led to a shortage of qualified professionals in recent years - a challenge that the new institute is trying to overcome.
"Oyu Tolgoi is a world-class Mongolian mine built by over 20,000 Mongolians. It is an amazing achievement in terms of engineering, technological advancement and safety standards - skills and knowledge that we will continue to develop locally with the establishment of the South Gobi Underground Mass Mining Institute," said Jakob Stausholm, CEO of Rio Tinto.
The inaugural cohort consists of 28 participants from various organizations who will use Oyu Tolgoi as a hands-on training facility. The University of Queensland will manage the institute, develop the curriculum and deliver the training. The curriculum will focus on underground mining, geotechnics and mining engineering and will address industry-specific needs and skills gaps with input from leading mining scientists and experts.
From 2026, the institute will be available for training to local and international mining companies. By the third year, the institute will be accredited by a globally recognized mining university.