On November 24, 2023, Oyu Tolgoi Environment department organized a consultative forum under the theme "Environmental Sector in Mining: Achievements and Vision" to discuss the importance of ensuring environmental sustainability in developing responsible mining. The event coincides with the 20th anniversary of environmental efforts by Oyu Tolgoi Environment department. On this day, a cooperation agreement was signed by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and Oyu Tolgoi for the rehabilitation of 187 hectares of land in Darkhan-Uul province.

The rehabilitation will be carried out on land abandoned by irresponsible mining in the areas of Shariin river and Hongor Soum in Darkhan-Uul province next year as part of the Oyu Tolgoi’s commitment to the "Billion Tree" national movement. The agreement was signed by B.Bat-Erdene, Minister of Environment and Tourism, Dierdre Lingenfelder, CEO of Oyu Tolgoi, B. Oyunsanaa, Head of Forestry Authority, Implementing Agency of the Government, and G.Batbayar, Head of Environment and Tourism Agency of Darkhan-Uul province.

On this occasion, B.Bat-Erdene, Minister of Environment and Tourism, emphasized, “We witnessed how irresponsible mining transformed Yeruu soum and how it was revived by technical rehabilitation by a responsible mining company. Our attitude towards the earth has been shaped by two ways: responsible and irresponsible. Today, we need to share the best practices of the mining industry exemplified by companies like Oyu Tolgoi, Erdenet Mining Corporation, and Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi, so the public can understand more about responsible mining. We are facing a lot of pressing issues.In particular, local communities are the ones experiencing negative impacts of irresponsible mining. Therefore, the Government of Mongolia is modifying many of its policy documents to support responsible mining practices.

Within the scope of the 2022 joint agreement signed with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Governor’s office of Selenge province, Oyu Tolgoi carried out a technical rehabilitation of 400ha land disrupted and abandoned by irresponsible artisanal miners in the Yalbag Valley of Selenge province.