years
workplace
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Monpolymet LLC
Toson plants is located in Burenkhangai, Bulgan and Zaamar area, Tuv. Since 1996, Toson Plant has been operating in the mining and manufacturing fields, holding a special license for the use of alluvial deposits on terraces and rivers in Bayangol and Toson.
Geology and quarry are parts of environmental science. Therefore, we have a team of professional engineers and workers who are setting a responsible mining example in the field by combining mining, manufacturing, and environmental rehabilitation all together.
The rehabilitation work after the mining operations must be carried out under a very high responsibility, and the most crucial work is to protect and restore the environment, as well as professional skills and experience.
Environmental rehabilitation strategy
Leader’s management: According to the statement by Chairwoman of “Monpolymet Group”, “Environmental rehabilitation” committee was established in 2007.
The committee consists of over 20 employees, such as ecologist, forestry, botanist, agronomist, landscape architect, other officers and assistant workers.
The standard for environmental rehabilitation: Toson Plant has prepared a plan to protect the environment based on detailed weather and ecology research while following the standard, regulations, and policies. The purpose of the team is to restore nature to its original state.
International standard ISO 14001
Mongolian standard MNS 5915 : 2008 “Classification of land damaged by mining activities”,
Mongolian standard MNS 5916 : 2008 “Preservation of topsoil removal during earthworks”,
Mongolian standard MNS 5918 : 2008 “Restoration of damaged areas”
Mine has exploited 931,67 hectares of mountain area:
Rehabilitation has been done for 743 hectares of area which is 80% of the total
Biological rehabilitation, and plantation work has been done for 514 hectares which is 69% of the total.
How to do the technical rehabilitation?
Technical rehabilitation is one component of the quarry work. We combine both works by integrating technical rehabilitation technologies with mountain work technologies such as mining, soil removal, and internal stockpiling.
Mountain exploitation system conducts the soil removal and environment rehabilitation at the same time. Therefore, it restore the surface to its original state.
How to do the biological rehabilitation?
Biological rehabilitation is done with the purpose of restoring the mined field to the original state and putting it into economic circulation.
“The environmental rehabilitation committee” of Monpolymet Group has been implementing and planning their work for years. At the same time, biological restoration work is being carried out in the following four main areas in order to create a tourist area in the region and a mining-restoration industry training base showing the history. It includes:
To create a forest with various types of trees
Cultivation of perennial pasture plants
Construction of freshwater lakes and ponds
Create groves of fruit trees and shrubs
Forestation
Over 100 trees have been planted in a 269-hectare environmentally rehabilitated area as part of the forestation scope. Up until now, we have created 17-year-old, 5.5 km long groves in seven parts of the area.
In order to carry out effective forestation work, we increase the types of the trees by bringing various trees and bushes from different places and researching them. We built our arboretum in 2005.
The arboretum consists of a greenhouse and an outside plantation. Outside plantations consist of seedlings and outside plantations.
In the arboretum, the trees by planted with seeding or propagating.
Siberian white poplar, лавар навчит улиас, stick-shaped willow (саваа хэлбэрт бургас), willow from Tuul and Borshoo from Uvs province, and willow from Khundlun river are growing in the arboretum field.
The following trees are planted by seed: elms, yellow acacias, brambles, chrysothamnus, Amygdalus pedunculata, apricots, syringa, etc.,
The following trees are planted propagating:
By woody branch: poplar, willow, Tamarix.
By green branch: Sea buckthorn berry and blackberry.
Tree seeding and propagating starts from greenhouse for the first year. From the second year outside plantation must be carried out in order to adjust to external temperatures. Up till now, we are conducting environmental rehabilitation by growing over 20,000 plantations.
Perennial cultivation of grassland
We always carry out soil test to determine the of soil fertility indication before planting the grassland plants. Then we compost the soil with 250-300kg/hectare of plant composter after preparing the soil by harrowing, milling, spudding
To plant grassland perennial from Mongolia and Russia as part of “Perennial cultivation of grassland”, we are using Russion МТЗ-82, СЗС-2.1 (seeder equipment). yellow alfalfa, bromus inermis, grass, agropyron cristatum, agropyron repens are planted with the equipment.
Making of the “Toson lake”
Creating man-made Toson lake from the scratch is one of the greatest examples of rehabilitation works carried out by Monpolymet group.
Important part of biological rehabilitation program carried out by our team was the creating Toson lake that is constantly recycled with underground fresh water covering 16 hectares of area in 2001.
Along the lake shores, aspen and elm trees are planted as well as local species such as wicker and rush trees. This lake was register into the state archive in 2011.
Lake water freshens itself through underground fresh water and provide habitat for variety of fish species such as зэвэг, perch, pike, and catfish. Also, every year, sawns, brown and black gooses, ducks, seagull, and heron birds come visit and reproduce.
In order to create pleasant mining environment for tourist, 3m wide, 700m long stone walkway was laid on the edges Toson lake shores along with recreational green areas where visitors can relax and go fishing.
Man-made Toson lake keeps improving its appearance year by year creating unique and colorful surroundings with variety species of trees, plants, and fruit bushes.
Besides planting trees and creating forest areas
we started creating small fruits and berry forests upon the requests by local residents of Zaamar soum of Central province in 2010. Based on fruits farm at Tsagaan bulag, we started planting seabuckthon trees on mining affected areas. Fruit trees we planted actually grew fruits in 2014.
Innovation implemented in rehabilitation works
Started using bio-charcoal planting bowls for rehabilitation works.
Our company started employing scientifically justified and innovative methods in mining rehabilitation works from 2017 and created bio-charcoal planting bowls in co-operation with the Innovation Business Development center at University of Agriculture.
Production of bio-charcoal planting bowls created by rehabilitation team in co-operation with the Innovation Business Development center at University of Agriculture is considered to be innovative idea in mining sector. Planting trees inside block shaped bio-charcoal bowl showed a great result. We all have common understandings that trees should be planted between May 1st and 15th or October 1st and 15th. By using bio-charcoal bowls, plants and trees can be planted any time of the year in Mongolia.
Bio-charcoal was made based on organic raw materials from plants and animals. Organic materials include forest and tree remains, dried out plants, leaves, branches, and all sort of livestock manures. Scientists determined that bio-charcoal helps maintaining soil water and nutrients and stays within soil for many years, which can be the important factor that can revive dry and sandy soil for green plantation. We can proudly say that works done by the Toson plant workers of Monpolymet showed a great result.
In collaboration with the Innovation Business Development center at University of Agriculture, 1 hectare of unfertilized soil was covered with perennial grass seeds such as шар царгас, өлөнгө, соргүй согоовор, лени ботууль, саман ерхөг in 3 separate parts and fertilized with bio-charcoal, bio-fertilizer, and humic fertilizers.
Rare and extremely rare plants were planted.
Mongolia has 127 different species of plants that are classified as rare and extremely rare. Jamiyandorj Kh, who is a renowned agronomist and PhD, science of Mongolia, who spent 50 years of his life researching species of plants spread throughout eastern half of Mongolia, handed over seeds of rare and extremely rare plants of Mongolia to ecologists, agronomists, and botanists at Toson plant of Monpolymet Group. This event has provided an opportunity for the rare plants and grasses to be spread to more areas in the country and bringing mining rehabilitation works up to scientific level where variety of experiences can be accumulated.
Work team at Toson mining plant received 140 different species of rare and extremely rare plants that belong to 93 different types of 64 different plant families. We have prepared 70×25 sized planting ground in our teaching facility specifically intended for growing rare and extremely rare plants and grass for experiment and research.
Water systems that utilize eco-friendly and advanced technology.
Not only rehabilitating mining exploited areas but also caring the land until it reaches back its natural settings is the most important part of the job. After the biological rehabilitation works are completed, watering seeded areas for the first 3 years is absolutely essential and required for receiving efficient and productive plantation.
For environmental rehabilitation works at Toson plant.
- Drip watering system
- Sprinkle watering system
- Watering system supplied by Д-630 pump made in Russia
- Watering carried out by water truck
- Leaving ices on tree holes for watering.
Drip watering system
Rehabilitated areas increased year by year making it difficult for the plant team to reach to each tree for watering and caring, thus, innovative and advanced watering method or technology needed to be embedded for efficient results.
Therefore, Monpolymet group implemented drip watering system in mining industry first in Mongolia in co-operation with “NYAMKYANG” of Republic of Korea. This works showed great results every year. By using drip watering system, we managed to evenly distribute moisture to every single tree and increase the tree growth up to 90% without spoiling. Water system has been installed on total of 45 hectares of area.
Advantages of drip watering system:
- Every single tree receives even and regular watering and moisture
- Water is used sparingly and optimally
- Human labor is eased out
- Saves labor time
Watering system with Д-630 water pump.
In order to improve biological rehabilitation work performances, we started utilizing Д-630 water pump made in Russia in 2007 to effectively watering the rehabilitated areas. This whole watering system was created by engineering and technical personnel of our company with effort to preserving beauty of our mother nature. Д-630 water pump is capable of watering relatively large areas, thus, it is usually used for watering areas planted with perennial grass seeds.
Watering works carried out by water truck
Certain amount of time is required for installing watering system on the area after it is rehabilitated. In order not to dry out the roots of trees we planted, we use water trucks for watering.
Sprinkler watering system
This watering system is used for the area seeded with perennial grass seeds and tree breeding open grounds. This system has advantage of watering relatively small area and distributing even moistures to the ground. Distance between each sprinkler is 5m and watering radius is 6m and has 5m of D50mm pipe for delivering water, which is easier to move and relocate.
Watering by leaving ice on the free holes
This method is used during dry spring time. Ice is splint in to large pieces and left on the tree holes. Ice eventually thaws under the sunlight giving required moisture to the trees until the summer rain.
