Эрдсийг эрдэнэст
Ирээдүйг өндөр хөгжилд
Ирээдүйг өндөр хөгжилд
Mining The Resources
Minding the future
Minding the future
Interview with SCOTT HAYNE, Senior Vice President, Redpath Canada Limited
Redpath has more than 60 years of history - could you outline the company’s evolution over that time and highlight some of the major global projects that demonstrate your expertise?
Redpath was founded in 1962 in Noranda, Quebec, by Jim Redpath and has grown from a small Canadian shaft sinking contractor into one of the world's leading underground mining contractors. A defining milestone came in 1965 with the successful completion of the Creighton No. 9 Shaft near Sudbury, which set a North American record for the deepest single-lift shaft and established Redpath's reputation for technical excellence.
Over the following decades, Redpath expanded internationally, delivering complex shaft sinking, mine development, and construction projects across Canada, the Arctic, Greenland, Australia, Africa, and Asia. The company became known for executing challenging projects in remote and demanding environments while building long-term partnerships with its clients.
Asia has been a key part of Redpath's growth for more than 40 years. In Indonesia, our relationship with PT Freeport Indonesia has grown into the longest-running contract in Redpath's history, spanning more than four decades.
In Mongolia, Redpath established operations in 2004 to support the development of the Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold project. We completed Mongolia's deepest mine shaft in 2008 at 1,385 metres and have since delivered some of the most significant shaft-sinking achievements in our company's history, including Shafts 1, 2 and 5. Through our joint venture, Dayan Contract Mining, we continue to provide mine development, construction and underground mining services at Oyu Tolgoi.
Throughout our 60-plus-year history, Redpath's success has been built on technical innovation, a strong safety culture, and a commitment to developing local workforces and long-term partnerships wherever we operate.
How did Redpath first become involved in Mongolia and at the Oyu Tolgoi Mine, and how did those early activities evolve into long-term operations?
Redpath first entered Mongolia in 2004 to sink the Camel Well shaft, a bulk sample project for Ivanhoe Mines. The successful delivery of that project led to the sinking and equipping of Shaft 1, which became the primary muck-handling facility supporting underground mine development at what is now the Oyu Tolgoi Mine.
Those early successes established a long-term partnership and paved the way for larger, more complex work. Redpath went on to construct Shaft 2 — one of the longest shaft-sinking programs in the company's history, which became the largest single excavation Redpath has ever completed. In 2012, we also began sinking Shaft 5 while continuing work on Shaft 2.
Over time, our role expanded beyond shaft sinking to include underground mine development, infrastructure construction, and ongoing mining services. Equally important has been our investment in developing a highly skilled Mongolian workforce, with local employees progressing into leadership and supervisory roles. What began as a single shaft-sinking project has evolved into more than two decades of partnership at Oyu Tolgoi, supporting one of the world's premier underground copper-gold mines.
What led to the establishment of Dayan Contract Mining?
Dayan Contract Mining (DCM) was established in 2015 to strengthen Redpath's long-term presence in Mongolia and support the continued development of the Oyu Tolgoi project. During the project's slowdown, Redpath recognized the importance of partnering with a strong local company that shared its values and commitment to Mongolia's mining industry.
Hasu Megawatt, which had worked with Redpath as a trusted subcontractor since 2006, was the natural partner. Together, we formed Dayan Contract Mining, creating a joint venture that combines Redpath's global underground mining expertise with strong local knowledge and capability.
Since its establishment, DCM has played a vital role in delivering underground mining services at Oyu Tolgoi while investing heavily in the recruitment, training, and development of Mongolian employees. Today, it is more than an operating partner — it is a key contributor to building local skills and supporting the long-term growth of Mongolia's mining sector.
Could you describe the current scope of work delivered by Dayan at the Oyu Tolgoi Mine?
Through Dayan Contract Mining, Redpath delivers a broad range of underground mining services at Oyu Tolgoi. Our current scope of work includes underground mine development, raiseboring, underground construction support services, steel-set roadway construction, and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) services for underground operations.
Together, these contracts support the safe and efficient development of one of the world's largest underground copper-gold mines and reflect the confidence Oyu Tolgoi continues to place in Redpath and Dayan as long-term mining partners.
How does Redpath contribute to workforce training and localization in Mongolia, and what measurable outcomes have you seen in developing local talent?
Workforce development and localization have been central to Redpath's approach in Mongolia since we established our training programs in 2007. Today, these initiatives are delivered through Dayan Contract Mining and are focused on developing the technical, leadership, and safety capabilities needed to support a world-class underground mining operation.
Our programs combine classroom learning, hands-on equipment training, competency-based assessments, on-the-job coaching, and leadership development. Training is delivered in both Mongolian and English and is aligned with international industry standards, with safety underpinning every aspect of the program.
Beyond technical skills, we have invested in dedicated training facilities in Ulaanbaatar, Khanbogd, and Dalanzadgad to provide practical, high-quality training in a controlled environment.
The results are evident in the strength of our Mongolian workforce. Over the past two decades, we have developed highly skilled local employees who now occupy technical, supervisory, and leadership positions across our operations. This commitment to localization has enabled us to build a sustainable workforce while supporting the long-term growth of Mongolia's mining industry.
Safety is a critical aspect of mining—how does Redpath ensure high safety standards across its global operations, and how are these practices implemented specifically in Mongolia?
Safety is Redpath's highest priority, and our goal is simple: zero harm. We believe every task can be completed safely, and that protecting our people, the environment, and the communities where we operate is fundamental to our success.
Across our global operations, we achieve this through strong leadership, robust safety management systems, comprehensive training, continuous risk assessment, and a culture that empowers every employee to take responsibility for safety. We also invest in modern technologies and competency-based training to ensure our workforce has the knowledge and skills to work safely and efficiently.
In Mongolia, these global standards are embedded through Dayan Contract Mining. Our experienced leadership teams, dedicated training programs, and ongoing investment in workforce development ensure that safety is integrated into every stage of our operations. By combining international best practices with a highly trained local workforce, we have built a strong safety culture that supports the safe delivery of complex underground mining projects at Oyu Tolgoi.
Our commitment remains unchanged: Safety — First, Last, and Always.
What are the key operational challenges of working in Mongolia, and alongside addressing these, what initiatives is Redpath undertaking to support local development and community growth?
South Gobi presents a unique operating environment, with extreme temperatures, high winds, and frequent dust storms. Fortunately, Redpath has decades of experience working in some of the world's harshest environments, from the Canadian Arctic to remote desert regions, and we have applied that expertise to establish safe, reliable, and efficient operations in Mongolia.
A greater long-term challenge was developing a skilled underground workforce. When Redpath arrived in 2004, large-scale underground mining was still new to Mongolia, so we invested heavily in recruiting, training, and developing local talent. That investment has created a highly skilled Mongolian workforce that now fills technical, supervisory, and leadership roles across our operations.
We have also been committed to supporting greater workforce diversity. Following the 2017 legislative changes that allowed women to work underground, Redpath introduced training pathways that enabled women to become underground equipment operators, including jumbo operators. Today, women represent more than 18% of our workforce, and that number continues to grow.
Supporting local communities remains a priority. Around 45% of our national workforce comes from the South Gobi region, reflecting our commitment to local employment, skills development, and creating long-term economic opportunities that extend beyond the life of the mine.
Looking ahead, what are the main priorities for Redpath in Mongolia?
Our priority is to continue being a trusted long-term partner in the development of Mongolia's mining industry. That means delivering safe, high-quality underground mining services while supporting the continued success of the Oyu Tolgoi project.
Equally important is investing in our people. We will continue to develop Mongolian talent, expand leadership opportunities for local employees, and strengthen the capabilities of Dayan Contract Mining so that it remains a world-class underground mining contractor.
As our business grows, we remain committed to exceeding our clients' expectations through technical excellence, innovation, and a strong safety culture. Our commitment is simple: to deliver every project safely, efficiently, and reliably—because at Redpath, "Challenge is an important part of life."
The philosophy that has guided Redpath for more than 60 years continues to shape our future in Mongolia: building lasting partnerships, developing local capability, and embracing the challenges that drive continuous improvement.
