The Mongolian Mining Journal

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.

“Selling raw coal after paying high transport costs makes little sense” Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi CEO Ya. Batsuuri tells G.Iderkhangai that better days for the coal trade are unlikely before next year and that Mongolian coal can be internationally competitive only when it is transported quicker and cheaper and only after value addition.

Oil and Gas Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Oil and Gas Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Mongolia Mining 2014, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Mongolia Mining 2014, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

13th Clean Coal Forum, Beijing, China 13th Clean Coal Forum, Beijing, China

Join in the Clean Coal Case Study with SINOPEC Produced by CDMC Events, The 13th Clean Coal Forum 2014 will be held on June 12,13, 2014 in Beijing, China. We are glad to invite Experts from SINOPEC to discuss Existing Problems in Present Coal Chemical Industry which will focus on Usage of Lignite Selection of applicable coal gasification technology Coal chemical industry VS. Environmental carrying capability Development of coal chemical perspective: construction and competition and etc.

STATE MINERALS POLICY 2014-2025 1.1. “State Minerals Policy” focuses on providing national primary interests by developing conspicuous and responsible mining relied upon private sector, in addition it will aim to develop multisectored and balanced economic structure in the short and mid-term.

MINETECH 2014, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia MINETECH 2014, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

OT waits for a brave and bold stroke The European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has once again deferred releasing funds for expansion of the underground mine at Oyu Tolgoi, from February 27 to March 31. That will also be when 15 commercial banks decide whether to defer the funding or even to cancel the financing deal.

Newera Resources to begin drilling at Ulaan Tolgoi Newera Resources is poised to start 2,000 metres of diamond drilling to test for potential coal deposits underlying five seismic lines that have produced positive results at its Ulaan Tolgoi coking coal project. In the first of two phases, it plans to drill two diamond holes of about 300 metres each into the best prospects identified as a precursor to the 1,400-metre second phase.

MONGOLIA NEEDS TRANSPARENT EXPORT PRACTICES D.Galsandorj, President of the Mongolian Exporters’ Association, consultant mining engineer and professor, talks to B.Tugsbilegt about the erosion in Mongolian mineral products’ export competitiveness and suggests corrective measures to be undertaken.

Nalaikh mine today…

NALAIKH MINE TODAY…

Photo report by B.Rentsendorj (GAMMA agency)

Chinese artisanal gold miners were active during the Bogd Khans’ reign in Mongolia, transporting their output to the Ikh Khuree. Then they established a big mine in 1920.

The Nalaikh mine began operation after the technical reforms in 1954-1958, and continued to work until mining was stopped under the Fuel, Energy, Geology and Mining Minister’s Resolution 111, issued on January 15, 1995.