Ulaanbaatar
Mongolia’s coal exports to China growing amid COVID-19
Economy
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/. A total of 40 million tons of coal had been projected to export abroad this year, however, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Mongolia has exported only around 13 million tons of coal currently. Another statistic shows that Mongolia is experiencing a decrease of 46 percent in the coal exports in the first seven months of 2020 compared to the same period of previous year.
According to an information provided by the Cabinet Secretariat of the Mongolian government yesterday, the coal exports from Mongolia have been growing, beginning from this month, and the number of coal transportation trucks has been increasing. The daily volume of coal transportation freight trucks to cross the border checkpoints to China was usually around 1,800 lately. However, in the recent several days, the number has exceeded 2,000.
In particular, on August 25, a total of 2,001 heavy duty trucks for coal transportation moved through Gashuunsukhait, Shiveekhuren, Yarant, Khangi border crossing points to China, which shows that the daily volume of coal trucks has returned to the pre-COVID-19 level.
As informed by the Cabinet Secretariat, the growth of coal exports to China is thanks to the Mongolian and Chinese governments’ joint implementation of the ‘Green Gateway’ temporary regulation at border crossing points.
To prevent from the spread of COVID-19, sterilization, and disinfection measures are being conducted for all trucks transporting coal and other minerals before they enter the country across border checkpoints and heavy-duty trucks conducting exports and imports transportation are being escorted under police surveillance to clearance terminals.
B.Dolgormaa
