The Mongolian Mining Journal

POSCO sets up subsidiary for SNG plant in Mongolia South Korea’s top steelmaker Posco has established a subsidiary to operate a synthetic natural gas (SNG) business that is planning extend operations to Mongolia.

Copper exports rise 53% in March, coal, oil and gold also up Figures released by the National Statistical Office show that Mongolia exported 53 per cent more copper concentrate in March than in the same month last year, mainly because of rising output at Oyu Tolgoi.

First stability certificates under new law likely this month S. Javkhlanbaatar, Director General of the Foreign Investment Regulation and Registration Department at the Ministry of Economic Development, answers questions from S. Bold-Erdene of MMJ on how the new Investment Law is working.

Draft regulations governing investment agreements This is a translation of the just released draft regulations governing investment agreements under the new Investment Law. We have tried to keep the translation accurate but it is neither literal nor authorised.

Costly delay over a new petroleum law A draft petroleum law was submitted to Parliament almost a year ago, and it is surprising that our lawmakers have not yet had the time to discuss it.

Mongolia EITI report has been analyzed by students from UBC The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) is a global coalition of governments, companies and civil society working together to improve openness and accountable management of revenues from natural resource development.

Shenhua concedes environmental demands in Ordos project The Shenhua Group is to stop extracting groundwater for their flagship coal to liquid project in Inner Mongolia’s Ordos, an area struggling with severe water shortages affecting farmers and herders.

9 companies win Oyu Tolgoi Gobi Gem awards Nine companies were named as Oyu Tolgoi’s best Mongolian suppliers in 2013 at the fifth ‘Gobi Gem - Supplier Recognition Awards’ ceremony in Ulaanbaatar last month.

Erdenes TT starts receiving money for West Tsankhi coal sale Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi Chief Financial Officer B. Enkhbat has revealed that the company received $17 million on 18 April from contracts signed with eight buyers for 4.25 million tons of coal.

‘Break time’ beckons We owe the clever phrase to L.Bayaraakhuu, CEO of the Mongolian Association of Metal Producers, who recently said his organisation hoped the industry would be able to revive itself in the ‘break time’ that appears to be almost upon us.

Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute has confirmed to speak at CCF2014 Produced by CDMC Events, The 13th Clean Coal Forum 2014 will be held o June n12,13, 2014 in Beijing, China. We are glad to invite President of Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute to discuss Dynamic of Clean Coal-fired Power Generation Development in China – Introduction of Huaneng GreenGen IGCC Project and etc.

Corruption investigators issue notice on SouthGobi SouthGobi Resources has received a notice from the Mongolian authorities that might lead to criminal actions against three of its former employees and SouthGobi could be held liable as “civil defendant”.

All eyes now on the port railway It is doubtful if the 267-km-long railway between Tavan Tolgoi and Gashuunsukhait will be commissioned in 2015 as planned, even if Parliament takes an early decision on what its gauge would be. At the moment, the priority is to complete construction of the narrow-gauge tracks to connect Gashuunsukhait to the Gantsmod border port.

Mongolia Investment Summit 2014, London, UK Mongolia Investment Summit 2014, London, UK

Australian-Mongolian mining partnership programme announced The Australian and Mongolian governments have announced a new five-year programme for the sustainable development of mining in Mongolia.

NEW TECHNOLOGIES to take mining forward The causality is so commonplace that we usually forget to note how necessity continues to be the mother of invention. Thus it is no surprise that in times when mines have to get deeper to allow optimum exploitation, excavation has to be quicker to keep up with the market, costs keep ratcheting upwards, and safety concerns become mandatorily and morally paramount, miners seek succour from new technological concepts.

Breakthrough in sight: PM asks Rio Tinto to resume talks The Mongolian Government has blinked, and taken a step to resolve the impasse over the second phase of the Oyu Tolgoi project. Expressing the hope that this will “open a new chapter in our relationship”, Prime Minister Altankhuyag wrote a letter to Rio Tinto CEO Sam Walsh on March 27, saying talks on financing the mine’s further development can be resumed without waiting for the completion of the feasibility study.

Modularized revolution for efficient solvent extraction Numerous studies and analyses have recently shown that the mining industry is facing serious challenges, including complex ores and declining grades together with increasing capital costs, exceeded project sche-dules and environmental regulations.

What changes will be made to the Minerals Law in the Spring Session of Parliament? See the new issue of the Mongolian Mining Journal for the full draft document, as well as for detailed information on how exploration licences will be granted from now on and which mines will be left out of the strategic deposits list.

Mongolia’s gambit to boost gold reserve In late January Mongolia enacted an amended gold royalty regime that lowers a gross tax on gold sales to 2.5 percent from up to 10 percent if a gold miner sells its production to the central bank. It’s a fascinating gambit by Mongolia to boost the size of its gold reserves, confidence in its inflating currency and growth of its official gold mining industry, which, according to reports, produced a modest 290,000 ounces gold in 2013, the vast majority of it exported.