The Mongolian Mining Journal

Invitation of Expression of Interest for Pre-qualification of Copper Concentrator Project The Copper Concentrator Project Unit, Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry of Mongolia invites submissions for Expression of Interest/Pre-Qualification of (Proponents) Applicants for the new construction project of a Copper Smelting and Producing Plant, at Umnugobi aimag, Mongolia. This Invitation on the pre-qualification is announced in connection with the public announcement of the bid for the selection of a project investor for the construction project of a Copper Smelting and Producing Plant. The pre-qualification and the bidding process takes place according to the Investment Law of Mongolia and the domestic and international regulation on the bidding of public-private partnership.

“We are competitors, but Australia and Mongolia can still work and grow together” My father was an immigrant to Australia and my family’s experience helped me grow up with an understanding of different cultures, languages and a perspective of Australia’s place in the world. I studied finance and public policy, but much of my early career was focused on the education and welfare sector, working with marginalised youth. It might seem a long stretch from youth worker to diplomat, but I was always interested in international relations, and many of the skills you need as a youth worker are similar to the ones we use in diplomacy, such as developing and maintaining strong networks, ability to refer people to services, negotiating and advocacy. Win-win situations do exist.

Are we seriously ready for the ETT IPO? In a few months, Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi will issue its IPO, marking a first for a Mongolian state-owned company. The chosen stock exchange is Hong Kong and the weather there is usually sunny in September – the likely date -- and we all hope the enthusiasm of international investors in one of the world’s largest coking coal deposits will match the autumn brightness. Nine years ago, on October 13, the first shares in the Mongolian coal sector were offered at an international stock exchange by Energy Resources under the name Mongolian Mining Corporation. Much snow has fallen and melted over Mongolia since that historic day, many development projects have been implemented and Tsogttsetsii, a remote soum in the Gobi, has started to prosper, but the Gashuunsukhait Railway is still an unrealized dream and a source of endless disputes.

Chinese show interest in SNG plant One of the proposed heavy industry projects that showed some progress is that on producing synthetic natural gas from coal. A feasibility study prepared by Wuhuan Engineering, a Chinese company, was submitted to the Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry in May 2017, but not much seems to have happened since then.B. Temuujin, manager of the project, explains the situation to G. Iderkhangai.

Mongolia presents its case at PDAC convention It was heartening to see at the latest PDAC (The Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada) convention how Mongolia commanded the attention of many of the 25,843 attendees from more than 130 countries at the world’s premier annual mineral exploration and mining event, held in Toronto from March 3 to 6.

Mongolia presents its case at PDAC convention It was heartening to see at the latest PDAC (The Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada) convention how Mongolia commanded the attention of many of the 25,843 attendees from more than 130 countries at the world’s premier annual mineral exploration and mining event, held in Toronto from March 3 to 6. This clear expression of international interest in the event led the PDAC President, Glenn Mullan, to aver that even in the face of “economic challenges and uncertainty, the mineral exploration and mining industry is experiencing a renaissance and renewed sense of confidence, highlighting its resilience once more.”

The wealth fund as mirage Our Mining Minister wants a new, or newly-fashioned, sovereign wealth fund. Since he is a powerful man and works with determination, he is likely to get it. Once the necessary law is approved, D.Sumiyabazar would be known as Mongolia’s SWFMan.

Erdenes Methane hopeful of getting foreign investment Erdenes Methane was established in February 2016 by the state-owned Erdenes Mongol to identify coal bed methane (CBM) reserves. G.Iderkhangai talks to the Executive Director of the company, D.Amar, to find out how it has been doing.

Establishing Local news network Journalism for Development NGO believes that it is very important for journalists covering mining and the economy to have a clear understanding of their subjects and to be well-informed about them at all times. Only this would enable them to provide accurate information and sensible analyses to readers and the TV audience. The need is stronger in the distant aimags and soums, where the mining sector is active. Thus our emphasis has always been on improving the skills of local journalists.

About Journalism for Development Journalism for Development is a non-Government organization founded at the initiative of the journalists at The Mongolian Mining Journal in 2010.

“Specific exploration squares must be offered” MRPAM Deputy Director M.Enkhjargal tells G. Iderkhangai that while stable state policy is the priority for foreign investment in the exploration sector to resume in Mongolia, some other things should also be done to woo investors.

Mongolia Mining 2019 focusing on Responsible Mining More than 150 exhibitors from countries such as United States of America, United Kingdom, China, Russia, the Czech Republic, Australia, Kazakhstan, Sweden, Japan, Germany, South Korea, Italy, Belarus, France and Canada will introduce the latest technology and equipment in the mining and heavy industry.

“Large projects should progress with no political interference” E.Odjargal talks to B.Bayarsaikhan, Head of the National Development Agency, on the success or otherwise of the Public Investment Programme and other such moves in bringing in foreign direct investment, and on how to protect the investment climate from political instability.

Agreement with OT a big boost to TT power plant project By signing on the very last day of 2018 an agreement on Oyu Tolgoi sourcing power from inside the country, Ts. Davaasuren, Minister of Energy, G.Batsukh, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Oyu Tolgoi, and Armando Torres, the company’s CEO, took the actual implementation of the long-discussed Tavan Tolgoi power plant mega project one big step forward.

Asgat gets a new owner but is it ready to be mined? On January 7, 2019, G. Zandanshatar, Head of the Cabinet Secretariat, issued directives tothe Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry (MMHI) and the Mineral Resources and Petroleum Authority (MRPAM) to transfer the ownership of the Asgat polymetallic deposit from Mongolrostsvetmet to the state-owned Erdenes Mongol.

Government policy and State policy Events in the past few weeks cannot but make us wonder where the state policy on the mineral sector is headed. A special operation with soldiers and police personnel was undertaken to clear the Salkhit silver mine of all activities by its licence holders.

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST Assignment title: Selection of a Consultant to develop a detailed feasibility study on the construction of a copper concentrate smelting and refining plant in Mongolia.

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST The Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry of Mongolia now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to express their interest in developing a detailed feasibility study on the construction of a copper concentrate smelting and refining plant in Mongolia.

Impact of neglecting exploration will be dire The revelation by the Mineral Resources and Petroleum Authority that for quite some time now there has been no new registration of any western investor in the exploration sector merely confirms what is common knowledge. Serious and tenacious American, Australian and Canadian investors have left Mongolia.

Mongolia Mining 2019 focusing on Responsible Mining More than 150 exhibitors from countries such as United States of America, United Kingdom, China, Russia, the Czech Republic, Australia, Kazakhstan, Sweden, Japan, Germany, South Korea, Italy, Belarus, France and Canada will introduce the latest technology and equipment in the mining and heavy industry.