Recent news
New mining law to have longer regulatory reach
The Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry has completed work on the draft of a brand new mining law which will soon be offered for public discussion. This does not seek to replace or supersede the current mining law but would be a separate and independent law containing regulatory provisions.
Coal export earned almost $1 billion
The full-year report for 2016 recently released by the National Statistics Office says the foreign trade turnover was $8.275 billion, 2.3% less than in 2015. Exports rose 5.3% year-on-year to reach $4.917 billion but imports fell 11.6% to $3.358 billion. The trade surplus of $1.559 billion was 1.8% higher than in the previous year.
About CRIRSCO - Committee for Mineral Reserves International Reporting Standarts
CRIRSCO, which was formed in 1994 under the auspices of the Council of Mining and Metallurgical Institutes (CMMI), is a grouping of representatives of organisations that are responsible for developing mineral reporting codes and guidelines in Australasia (JORC), Brazil (CBRR), Canada (CIM), Chile (National Committee), Europe (PERC), Kazakhstan (KAZRCA), Mongolia (MPIGM), Russia (NAEN), South Africa (SAMREC) and the USA (SME).
“Oil price rise will bring in new investment”
S.Bold-Erdene talks to Ch.Chuluunbat, Head of the Fuel Policy Department in the Mining and Heavy Industry Ministry, about amendments to the product sharing agreement, extraction of crude oil, consumption and investments.
Oyu Tolgoi achieves record production performance in 2016
The recently released fourth quarter and annual production results report of Oyu Tolgoi LLC shows that the company’s open pit mining and concentrator operations in 2016 achieved record levels for material mined and ore treated, and exceeded both copper and gold production guidance for the year. Concentrator performance during the fourth quarter was strong with the highest throughput since production began.
How Mongolia can use Kazakhstan’s success in uranium
In recent years, Kazakhstan has become one of the world’s leading countries in exploiting its radioactive mineral resources such as uranium, beryllium, tantalum, niobium, lithium, and rare metals and rare earth elements, reaching a high level of excellence in their exploration and extraction, and in using modern production technology.
Two case studies from CIRDI workshop in Bishkek
Following the initial one in Ulaanbaatar in May 2016 and a second in Myanmar in July, the next in the series of workshops on various facets of the State’s role in large resource projects organised by the Canadian International Resources and Development Institute (CIRDI) was recently held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
PM’s nudge brings ETT and ER together
During a working visit to the Southgobi earlier in November, Prime Minister J. Erdenebat had a meeting with senior executives of the three companies operating in the Tavan Tolgoi deposit to explore the possibility of selling their coal from one point. The outcome of the talks has been positive as Energy Resources and Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi have started cooperating with each other.
To “Our Editor”
Boloroo, you are no longer in our living world, but we at the MMJ still think of you as our editor, and believe that you are still writing your incisive articles in your special style. You have gone to another world and will not return, but your presence at the office is still vivid and active.
Trends in Commodity Prices
We are currently in an era of extreme volatility in terms of commodities, where we can experience the swiftest growth in value, and one of the sharp drops, all within a few weeks of one another (Australian Mining August 2016).
How are our coal exporters doing as prices and sales rise?
According to the National Statistical Office Mongolia exported 16.24 mln tons of coal in the first 9 months of 2016, which is 6 mln tons or 55% more than in the corresponding period last year. Similarly export revenue has increased by 18% to reach $509.8 mln.
“When we invest we invest for a long term”
Earlier this month, Jean Sebastien Jacques, who took over as CEO of Rio Tinto not so long ago brought the entire board of the mining giant to Mongolia for a trip to the Oyu Tolgoi site. He and the Rio Chairman also met with the Prime Minister to discuss various issues related to the OT project. S.Bold-Erdene of the MMJ was among the Mongolian journalists who spoke to him. This is a fair but not literal transcript of the conversation.
Interview with Battuya Jalbasuren, Managing Partner, Chinggis Law LLP
My name is Battuya Jalbasuren. I am a Managing Partner of Chinggis Law LLP. We’re lawyers and attorneys who provide legal consulting services and advocacies specializing in mining, commercial and corporate areas of law. My partner Batbayar Enkhee is an attorney with extensive experience in administrative and criminal law practices
Action plan must mean action, not just plan
Recently the government’s action plan for 2016-2020 was approved by the Parliament. The government will now prepare a comprehensive plan to implement the action plan, and get this approved at a government meeting. The actual implementation will begin only then. The action plan lists the five main directions where the government intends to be most active.
How Russia sees Mongolia as gateway to the southern seas
Last June, Russia celebrated the 125th anniversary of the longest rail line in the world. It was indeed an event to celebrate, as 70 per cent of the country’s rail freight is carried along these tracks through the Siberian landscape, an area with a huge amount of natural resources.
20th anniversary greeting
In the 20 years since my father and I visited Mongolia and decided to establish the Caterpillar Inc. Dealership for the country much has changed, but interestingly much has stayed the same.
