Plizio Visual Lab

Oyu Tolgoi Mine

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

mine

Weather…

The Oyu Tolgoi Mine is one of the world's largest high-grade copper and gold deposits, located in the South Gobi Desert of Mongolia. It is a strategic joint venture between the Government of Mongolia and the international mining conglomerate Rio Tinto. Development followed major discoveries around 2001, with open-pit production commencing in 2013. A transformative milestone was reached in March 2023 with the start of underground operations, accessing rich ore bodies situated more than 1,300 meters below the surface. Oyu Tolgoi is a cornerstone of the Mongolian economy, contributing a substantial percentage of the national GDP and employing thousands of local workers. The mine implements cutting-edge technology to recycle nearly 80% of its water usage, a necessity in the arid Gobi environment. Most of the copper concentrate is exported via truck to the nearby Chinese border to meet global industrial demand. As a flagship industrial project, it represents both the potential of Mongolia's mineral wealth and the complexities of international economic partnerships.

Location: Mongolia
Nearby: Mandalgovi (89 km)

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg °C	-13	-8	0	8	15	22	25	23	16	6	-3	-11
Rain mm	2	2	3	4	12	22	29	26	17	6	3	2

📋 Practical info

🏭

What is this place?

Located deep in the arid expanses of the South Gobi Desert, this monumental site is one of the most significant copper and gold mining operations on the planet. It stands as a massive driver of the Mongolian national economy, representing unprecedented foreign investment and the immense scale of modern resource extraction techniques.

🚪

Visiting

As an active, highly restricted heavy industrial site located in a very remote environment, the actual mining complex is entirely closed to casual tourists. Access is strictly controlled, and visiting generally requires securing special permissions or participating in highly specialized professional industry delegations organized well in advance.

👀

Where to view it

For those traversing the vast Gobi Desert on overland expeditions, the immense infrastructure and heavy machinery can sometimes be glimpsed from extremely distant dirt tracks. However, the sheer scale of the desert often obscures clear views, and travelers are strongly advised against attempting to drive too close to the secured perimeter.

🧺

Local products

Being an industrial mining enclave far from traditional settlements, visitors will absolutely not find tourist markets, local crafts, or standard amenities directly at the site. Any provisioning or purchasing of Mongolian goods must be done well in advance in the distant capital of Ulaanbaatar or in the larger regional towns.

📆

Active season

The mining operations continue relentlessly throughout the year, battling the extreme temperature fluctuations typical of the Gobi Desert climate. If you are part of a permitted expedition in the broader region, travel is generally most practical and significantly safer during the milder months of late spring or early autumn.

➕

Nearby

A remote expedition into this arid region is usually combined with exploring the striking natural landscapes of the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park. Travelers often make arduous multi-day journeys to witness the dramatic singing sand dunes of Khongoryn Els or the towering cliffs of the Flaming Cliffs.