Ulaanbaatar
Investment forum seeks possibilities to raise gold production
PoliticsUlaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ "Mongolia Gold 2017" investment forum was held on March 17 at the Chinggis Hotel, gathering some 300 domestic and international delegates from government, private sector and investors.
“Mongolian Mining Exchange” company organized the event with aims to improve legal environment, stabilize it, solve financing, introduce gold projects and advanced technologies, expand business ties and cooperation, share international experiences and bring exploration works into a new level.
Gold production of Mongolia makes up 2.6 per cent of GDP or 9.1 per cent of export revenues. Gold export is planned to be increased consistently by 2-3 tons each year and is expected to reach USD 1.2 billion in 2020 and USD 1.6 billion in 2025, increasing export revenues from gold by 26,7 per cent and 68.4 per cent respectively, compared with gold exports in 2015.
As of last November, a total of 17.6 tons of gold in value of USD680 million was sold to the Bank of Mongolia. The number of companies, which are running business in the gold industry, and gold production has been increasing year by year. Now, gold miners occupy 45 per cent of mining companies.
The Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry is working to make a list of gold mining license holders, which needs additional financing. To boost gold industry, the Government approved “Gold-2” program, the main goal of which is to give financial support to gold miners in order to increase their operational capacity and to mine 25 tons of gold by 2020, increasing gold reserves by 100-150 tones. Funding, needed for the program, will be covered jointly by the Government and the Bank of Mongolia, according to Minister of Mining and Heavy Industry Ts.Dashdorj. “Gold” and “Gold 2000” programs were implemented in 1992-2000.
There are 1642 registered gold licenses, out of which 542 for mining and 1100 for exploration, covering 46.3 per cent of all mining licenses, informed Deputy Chair of Mineral Resources and Petroleum Authority M.Enkhjargal.
“-“Gold-2” program targets to ensure sustainable development of gold production in short and middle terms, increase geological research and exploration works, raise gold production consistently through utilizing placer and other metal deposits containing gold and to introduce best technology, equipment and management in gold mining, processing and rehabilitation, which are eco-friendly, has low negative effect to human health and supportive to sustainable development” noted the Deputy Chair.
