Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), a diversified mining and metals company, established the ERG Corporate University to support business management, environmental safety, and workforce development. The University launched a training programme for heavy- duty transport drivers, which improved driving skills, reduced fuel and tyre consumption, and decreased greenhouse gas emissions. The programme’s success has positively impacted ERG’s business and environmental challenges, leading to the launch of new projects.

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Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) — a prominent international mining and metals company headquartered in Kazakhstan. ERG integrates exploration, mining, processing, energy, and logistics operations across Asia, Europe, Africa, and Latin America. Committed to adhering to international standards, ERG prioritises sustainable development and environmental protection. A cornerstone of the ERG sustainability strategy is the establishment of the Corporate University, serving not only as an educational centre but also as a hub for the company’s innovative development. 

Business Challenge and Creation of a Training Programme

One of ERG’s significant business challenges was enhancing the competencies of heavy-duty vehicle drivers. The company’s transportation fleet needed skilled specialists proficient in efficiently and safely operating dump trucks at ERG’s open pits.

To tackle this challenge, ERG developed a comprehensive training programme aimed at improving drivers’ skills and reducing operational costs. This initiative was expected to elevate safety standards and professionalism among personnel while also significantly curbing harmful emissions into the environment. 

Environmental Aspect and Social Significance

The Company adheres to international best practices in business conduct, environmental protection, safe working conditions, and human capital development.

To bolster these principles, ERG established the Corporate University, featuring:

• A unique educational ecosystem offering blended learning across campuses in all regions of operation,
  focusing on leadership and industrial training.
• Practice-oriented content tailored for management at all levels.
• Expertise in business transformation encompassing people, processes, and technologies.
• A network of partnerships with both Kazakhstani and international companies and communities.

Across all aspects of its operations, the Group actively seeks opportunities to mitigate its environmental impact. Environmental considerations played a pivotal role in programme development.

Transportation represents a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, making reducing environmental impact a crucial objective for ERG. The training programme specifically targets reductions in fuel consumption and tyre wear through recycling, leading to substantial decreases in emissions during ore mining and transportation.

Transportation stands as one of the largest contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions (approximately 16%), with cars alone accounting for 11.9%, followed by aeroplanes and ships at 1.9% and 1.7% respectively, and trains at 0.4%. The reduction of emissions from transportation plays a pivotal role in the global effort against climate change.

The project’s social significance lies in ensuring the safety of workers. Training is conducted under conditions closely resembling real-life scenarios, enabling drivers to hone their skills without risking life or health.

Technical Solutions and Infrastructure

The programme centred around a simulator custom-built for ERG in collaboration with OPEREX, the simulator development partner. The simulator faithfully replicates the operational environment of ERG’s open pits, encompassing weather conditions and technological processes, enabling drivers to refine their skills in a secure virtual setting that precisely mirrors actual operating conditions.

The training infrastructure features dedicated classrooms equipped with state-of-the-art simulators. Through extensive expertise and meticulous project preparation involving all Group companies, the training programme was successfully launched.

It operates around the clock to maximise accessibility and efficiency for all employees.

• Identical control system: The dashboard and control panel feature original components.
• Recreated visual environment: All open pits, routes, and weather conditions are faithfully reproduced.
• Comprehensive coverage of driver operations: The system encompasses 100% of tasks performed by drivers.
• Simulation of emergency and abnormal situations: Scenarios include engine fires, tyre blowouts, hydraulic system pressure drops, engine overheating, and more.
• Maximum safety assurance for employees: Both during training sessions and actual driving scenarios.

Our specialised training infrastructure and expert trainers enable 24/7 training sessions and comprehensive progress monitoring, generating detailed reports with specific recommendations.

Through meticulous analysis and precise specification of requirements, we have developed landscapes and visuals that precisely replicate the mines and open pits of our enterprises. A notable feature of our simulator is its accurate modeling of weather conditions specific to the latitudes where our operations are located. Every lever, control panel, and the driver’s seat are exact replicas of those found in a real dump truck.

“Training on the simulator closely mirrors actual transportation operations at the workplace — providing the same perspective from the cab, following identical routes, and navigating through challenging sections,” explains Marat Seilkhanov, a driver at the Transport Shop of SSGPO.

The training programme is available to employees holding diplomas as heavy-duty dump truck drivers, with over 1,000 drivers undergoing training quarterly. Business clients, represented by enterprises, express complete satisfaction with the programme’s outcomes, which were initially defined as follows:

• Knowledge and skills improvement by 60%.
• 95% of trainees achieve test results at a level of 95%, compared to 35% before training.
• Post-training, fuel consumption decreases by up to 30%, equating to approximately USD 100,000 per month depending on the operational season.
• Tyre consumption also sees a substantial reduction of up to 70%.

 

A significant outcome is the ability to monitor a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

This success story illustrates how training can profoundly impact both the company’s business operations and environmental challenges, paving the way for the initiation of new and more intricate projects. 

Programme outcomes and outputs

ERG has attained substantial achievements through its training programme:

• Enhanced Skills: Drivers have shown notable readiness improvements, leading to increased productivity, fewer incidents, and enhanced workplace safety.
• Fuel and Resource Efficiency: Trained drivers have achieved significant reductions in fuel consumption and tyre wear, resulting in substantial resource conservation and cost savings.
• Environmental Advantages: Optimised operational processes have contributed to reduced emissions of greenhouse gases and other harmful substances, yielding environmental benefits.

The training programme at ERG Corporate University stands as a stellar example of successful implementation of innovative training methods and their profound impact on both the company’s operational efficiencies and environmental sustainability. ERG has demonstrated how aligning educational objectives with business interests can lead to significant enhancements across various facets of its operations. The future prospects of such initiatives appear promising not only for ERG but also for the broader global natural resource extraction and processing industry.

“The developed methodology for assessing the training’s impact aligns perfectly with our expectations. We observe tangible improvements in driver actions and can monitor real-time fuel consumption to manage exhaust emissions effectively. There is a direct correlation between personnel competence, its impact on our business, and environmental outcomes,” emphasises Vitaly Gupalov, Head of the Automobile Convoy at Sokolovsko-Sarbai Mining and Processing Plant JSC.

ERG stands out not only as a leading mining and metals company but also as a pioneer in innovative sustainability and education initiatives. Their ambitious training programme for heavy-duty vehicle drivers has enhanced staff professional skills and been instrumental in alleviating environmental impact. Through the use of advanced technology and simulators, ERG drivers have honed their skills in a secure virtual environment, leading to substantial improvements in safety and operational efficiency across production levels.

ERG’s training programme exemplifies the transformative impact of investing in human capital and technological solutions on critical business facets. It has bolstered employee professionalism while significantly reducing the company’s environmental footprint. ERG’s approach not only reinforces its market leadership but also establishes new benchmarks in the industry, underscoring how sustainable development and innovative education and training practices can mutually drive economic growth and environmental stewardship.

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