The Mongolian Mining Journal

11th Coaltrans China 16th April 2013 Beijing, China

Botswana Coal and Energy Conference 16th April 2013 Gaborone, Botswana

Iran announces it is mining and processing uranium in spite of stiff global sanctions On National Nuclear Technology Day in Iran, the government celebrated by announcing the full operation of Ardakan Yellowcake Production Plant, which is located in Yazd province in central Iran. It will process approximately 60 tons of uranium annually excavated from Saghand 1 and 2, two nearby mines.

Bauma 2013 15th April 2013 Munich, Germany

Mine Water Solutions in Extreme Environments 15th April 2013 Lima, Peru

MINING AND LOCAL RESIDENTS It is January in the Gobi. The sun shines brightly as only it can in the Gobi. We encounter local people speaking in aphorisms, great Gobi’s brave hearted camel herdsman, and a paleontologist who guards footprints of dinosaurs in Shar Tsav. We hear a tale about a powerful wrestler whose name was Ider Dampil.

A rash of mining accidents in China is raising safety and environmental concerns On the first day of April, six coal miners died after an explosion in Jilin province in northeast China, where only 3 days earlier twenty-eight miners had perished.

Fears grow that Rio Tinto’s smelter in New Zealand may close as aluminum prices drop The government of New Zealand offered Rio Tinto a short-term subsidy to help pay for electricity for its aluminum smelter in Tiwai Point in southern New Zealand.

“Growth must not be mistaken for true development” Known for his incisive analysis and independent views as well as for the no-nonsense way in which he expresses them, Byambasuren Dash, the 17th Prime Minister of Mongolia, tells N.Ariuntuya what he thinks of what is presently happening in the mining sector.

Cozy relationship in China between government and state mining businesses is scarring the environment The case of China presents a unique set of obstacles to protect the environment from mining activities. State companies retain strong ties to the government and continue to provide many of the services the state previously supplied.

Report released Monday indicates spiraling costs of Oyu Tolgoi project A report released by Turquoise Hill on Monday estimates that the cost of second-phase development of its Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold project at $5.1 billion. This equals what the company had estimated the year prior.

SouthGobi Resources blames suspension of licenses for fourth quarter losses Reuters reports that SouthGobi Resources Ltd’s revenue plummeted to $53 million from $179 million the year prior.

Consensus needs time, says President We give below a summary of President Ts.Elbegdorj’s opening address at the public discussion of the draft Minerals Law in the Citizens’ Chamber.

Centerra reports higher output, lower costs at Boroo Centerra Gold has reported that gold production at the Boroo mine in the fourth quarter of 2012 was 29,878 ounces, compared to 12,866 ounces in the same period of 2011. The production increase of 12,614 ounces is a result of processing higher grade ore from Pit 6 and the addition of 7,486 ounces of production from the heap leach operation which resumed in October 2012.

Complex challenges face Mongolia’s coal industry The government of Mongolia recognises both that exploitation of its mineral wealth is essential if the economy is to grow and that it must establish a sustainable way forward if it is to avoid the problems that have affected several other resource rich developing countries in the past.

Oyu Tolgoi produces first concentrate Turquoise Hill Resources has announced that its 65%-owned Oyu Tolgoi copper/gold project has now produced its first copper/gold concentrate after it processed first ore through the concentrator in early January.

“150 Articles in the draft need careful review” Dr. G.Tsogt, Vice President of Industry and Project Implementation at Mongolyn Alt, answers questions by N.Ariuntuya on the draft mining law.

The new law seeks to give “a new direction” to mining Ts.Davaatseren, Honoured Industrial Worker and Head of the Mining Department at the Minerals Authority, was advisor to the working group that prepared the draft mining law. He answers N.Ariuntuya’s questions on the draft and explains the thoughts behind several controversial provisions in it.

Mongolia Minerals targets 2014 for first production Fluorspar developer Mongolia Minerals is targeting a production date of late 2014 for its Dai Uul project in Central Mongolia.

Altan Rio intersects 1.77 gt gold over 8.05 m at Chandman-Yol Toronto-listed Altan Rio Minerals has announced results from the recently completed drilling programme at its 100%-owned Chandman-Yol copper-gold porphyry project, including 8.05 m at 1.77 g/t gold only 16.30 m from surface, at the recently discovered Takhilt target.