communities
Badrakh Energy undertakes projects and programs to support the socio-economic development of Ulaanbadrakh soum and Zuunbayan bagh of Sainshand soum in Dornogovi province, where it operates.
The company has undertaken health, environment, water supply, livestock and education projects that are tailored to the specific needs of the communities through consultation and cooperation with local stakeholders. These projects contribute to the well-being and economic prosperity of the local citizens.
BUILDING AN OPEN AND EFFECTIVE DIALOGUE
Badrakh Energy strives to build a trusting relationship with all stakeholders living in the soums of Dornogovi by considering the specific needs of Gobi Desert herders.
Badrakh Energy has a dedicated team for community relationships which ensures constant communication and the effectiveness of the social investments. This team studies and evaluates community needs and requirements and provides information and feedback on the company’s operations.
Pilot site visit
The company has been regularly providing information on the progress of the Zuuvch Ovoo project to stakeholders, including local residents and herders.
The Zuuvch Ovoo pilot test was completed in 2021-2022. During the 18 months of pilot test operations, information about the project was widely shared with local communities. More than 700 people from different professions (teachers, students, state mining experts, journalists etc.) visited the site during the pilot operation. Since the end of pilot operations, the site facility remains open for visits and will be used in the future as the training center for ISR mining operators.
From 2021-2023, around 1400 people visited the pilot site
Local cooperation council
In 2013, the Local Cooperation Council was launched, with local communities and administrations, to set up and develop open dialogue, facilitate the exchange of opinions, ensure transparency, provide information on company activities and short and medium-term plans related to the project, through regular meetings with local communities in Ulaanbadrakh soum and Zuunbayan bagh of Saunshand soum.
The Local Cooperation Council has 15 members, representing Badakh Energy, local government organizations, non-governmental organizations and herders. The council members are selected through bagh public meetings.
The Local Cooperation Council is the main bridge of communication between the company and the local community, especially the herders. Representing the company, members of the sustainable development and local relations team attend each meeting and work to ensure the organization of the meeting.
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Investments
Investments made between 2006-2020 (billion MNT)
Agreements
Cooperation Agreement investments 2018-2020 (million MNT)
SUPPORTING EDUCATION
KINDERGARDENS AND SCHOOLS
Badrakh Energy has been making investments in the education sector since 2006, as part of its social responsibility program.
Several projects were carried out to improve the living and learning conditions for children and students.
Badrakh Energy accelerates efforts to prepare its future work force
In 2023, Badrakh Energy signed MoUs with National University of Mongolia, Mongolian University of Science and Technology and Polytechnical College of Sainshand. The company is planning to create 800 direct jobs during production phase. Therefore, it is vital to closely cooperate with domestic universities by supporting the training of professionals in the fields of nuclear and chemical technology, uranium mining, geology and mining. The MoU plans to implement following:
- organizing long and short-term joint training and research, workshops, seminars and conferences
- share resources, data and equipment for research and development purposes
- exchange work experience and build human resources capacity etc.
97% of Badrakh Energy’s supplies come from Mongolian registered companies, thus contributing to the development of Mongolia.
COMPANY SCHOLARSHIPS
Since 2010, Badrakh Energy has been continuously supporting a scholarship program to train qualified personnel and support education in the region where it operates.
Since the launch of the program, a total of 226 scholarships have been awarded to 77 students . Notably, our scholarship covers the full tuition fees throughout the entirety of the recipients’ university education.
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
FXB PROJECT
Since 2016, Orano Mining and Badrakh Energy have supported the Francois-Xavier Bagnoud (FXB) association and its dedicated programs in Dornogovi province. The program aims to lead families out of extreme poverty and enable them to achieve social and economic independence. The families are supported on nutrition, health, lodging and education, with different training courses.
In addition to theoretical knowledge and practical advice, they are provided with a seed fund to start income-generating activities. At the end of the 3-year program, the families should be able to sustain themselves financially and spread the positive impact further within their community. The last extension of the project took place in 2022 and will finish at the end of 2024.
2014: Animal health study and assessment of situation in Sainshand and Ulaanbadrakh soums in Dornogovi province
The United Private Veterinary Clinics of Mongolia carried out an animal health study and assessment of the situation in the Sainshand and Ulaanbadrakh soums in Dornogovi province in May and June 2014.
Twenty herder households divided into two groups were selected for assessment, including 15 herder households living within the licensed area of Badrakh Energy and five herder households living outside of the licensed area of the company.
Based on the results of analysis of blood plasma and anatomical dissection, there is no difference between the animals from the two groups living within and outside the licensed area of the company.
2014-2019: Project to improve veterinary service
The United Private Veterinary Clinics of Mongolia carried out this project in 2014-2017 to provide animal health services through surveillance of livestock diseases within herds with high occurrence of diseases, including in a total of five baghs – 4 in Ulaanbadrakh soum and 1 in Sainshand soum – in Dornogovi province and providing veterinary services to improve livestock health.
The outbreak of livestock disease in the baghs covered by the project was the same as in other provinces. Observation made on the animals covered by the project did not reveal any special problems or concerns. In addition, there was no single epicenter.
2019: Study on Inborn and acquired abnormal developments
A study on inborn and acquired abnormal developments among the five types of the livestock was performed by the United Private Veterinary Clinics of Mongolia in 2019. The scope of study included Ulaanbaatar city and 21 provinces. The study revealed that cases were relatively few in the Gobi region provinces and Dornogovi province ranked 11th in the country nationwide.
2023: Animal health study
The animal health study and assessment was carried out jointly by the United Private Veterinary Clinics of Mongolia and the Institute of Veterinary Medicine, from April to July 2023, with a team of 18 people covering the Ulaanbadrakh, Khuvsgul and Airag soums in Dornogovi province. In doing so, blood samples were taken from 367 animals from the three soums, and the causes and symptoms of the diseases appearing in the animals were similar to those in other areas following the analysis of biochemical, blood plasm, and parasitic diseases. It was concluded that there were no noteworthy symptoms, independent diseases, or distinguishing diseases in Ulaanbadrakh soum.
Livestock reconstitution project
The company began this project in an effort to assist herders who had suffered substantial livestock losses during the 2006-2007 zud, and the project moved on to further assist families living on an income below the standard of living who had an aspiration to become herders, but owned only a few animals.
The eligibility criteria of the livestock reconstitution project in the region were defined with the involvement of herders. The livestock for the project was bought from the herder citizens of the bagh at a market rate and transferred to the project households.
The principle of the repopulation involves introducing 25 female goats and 25 female sheep to the herd of the participating family, and after they acquire offspring and benefits for 3 years, the family transfers the same number of young, female herd animals of reproductive age to the next herder family.
In 2023, a total of 10 new families have received livestock and the project has earned the appreciation of herders. With 96 families from Ulaanbadrakh soum and 38 families from Zuunbayan bagh, a total of 134 herder families, having taken part in the project thus far.
During the winter and spring of 2023-2024, when the situation of zhud became severe, more than 5 million livestock deaths occured throughout Mongolia. During this time, Badrakh Energy and Orano Mining donated 500 million MNT to eliminate the damage caused by the zud and provided livestock to the herders. Of this, 300 million MNT was donated to Dornogovi Governor office and Emergency Commision, and 200 million MNT was donated to the Mongolian Red Cross Society respectively.
GRIEVANCE MECHANISM
The grievance management procedure, launched at the end of 2020, is designed to pre-resolve problems before they lead to legal disputes. The company makes great efforts to answer well-documented requests and complaints from third parties, and to seek solutions without delay.
After recording requests or complaints submitted to the company, the company ensures they are resolved within two months, with the participation of the relevant company departments and employees, in keeping with revised regulations. The report on the resolution of requests and complaints is presented to the Local Cooperation Council on a yearly basis.
GRIEVANCES CAN BE SUBMITTED:
- by phone: 94091185/99103412
- by e-mail: enkhjargal.tserendorj@orano.group
- by post: Badrakh Energy, ICC Tower, floor 5, Jamiyan Gun street 9, Khoroo 1 Sukhbaatar District, Ulaanbaatar
