Training has started at the new South Gobi Underground Mass Mining Institute (SGUMMI), which was established by mining company Rio Tinto and is managed by JKTech Pty Ltd, the knowledge transfer vehicle of The University of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI).
SGUMMI project lead Professor Andre van As, from SMI’s WH Bryan Mining Geology Research Centre (BRC), said the aim is to help alleviate the global mining skills shortage by providing a regional practical training hub that combines academic and practical industry knowledge.
“This initiative will address the critical skills gap in the underground mining sector, making a substantial global impact while developing essential expertise in underground, hard rock mass mining in Mongolia,” Professor van As said.
The launch of the Institute is the culmination of years of program development and research in the BRC’s Deep Mining Geoscience Group and training will be delivered by global industry subject matter experts, using Rio Tinto’s Oyu Tolgoi mine in southern Mongolia as a practical training hub.
“Our aim is for the Institute to establish itself as a strategic hub for mining education in Asia, benefiting the local Mongolian mining community and contributing to the global mining workforce,” Professor van As said.
During a recent visit to the Oyu Tolgoi Mine, Rio Tinto Chief Executive Officer Jakob Stausholm said the Institute will build on the world class standards of the mine.
“It’s an amazing feat of engineering, technological advancement and safety standards – skills and knowledge that we’ll continue to develop locally with the establishment of the South Gobi Underground Mass Mining Institute,” Mr Stausholm said.
JKTech Pty Ltd CEO Mark Noppé said that JKTech Pty Ltd has a long track record of providing professional development all over the world.
“With background and expertise from subject matter experts in underground mining, geotechnics, and mining engineering, SGUMMI will be able to help address industry’s demand and help solve skill deficiencies,” Professor Noppé said.
Related Work
SMI’s Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining (CSRM) also designed and delivered a training program to build the Mongolian mining industry’s capacity to deliver sustainable mining and support green energy transition program, via the Australia-Mongolia Partnership
For more information on the CSRM program: https://global-partnerships.uq.edu.au/article/2025/02/australia-and-mongolia-explore-energy-challenges-through-australia-awards-fellowships.
