Mongolia Projects Budget Surplus, Citing Strong Performance by "Erdenes Tavantolgoi"

Politics
ooluun@montsame.gov.mn
2025-10-06 13:13:06

Ulaanbaatar, October 6, 2025 /MONTSAME/.  On October 4, 2025, Prime Minister of Mongolia Zandanshatar Gombojav visited the "Erdenes Tavantolgoi” (ETT) company. A new mine has been commissioned at the Tsankhi section of the company, enabling the sale of high-quality coking coal at international market prices.


To revive the economy, increase coal transportation, exports, and sales, and ensure implementation of the Law on the National Wealth Fund, the Government of Mongolia imposed a three-month special regime at “Erdenes Tavantolgoi” JSC starting July 9, 2025. A team of Special Plenipotentiary Representatives was appointed to carry out this task, with the goals of improving governance, management, discipline, accountability, and eliminating conflicts of interest.


Byambasuren Urgamal, Head of the Government’s Special Representatives’ Team at Erdenes Tavantolgoi and Deputy Chief of the Cabinet Secretariat, presented the outcomes achieved during the special regime period. Key accomplishments include:

  • Resumption of previously suspended coal exchange trading, conducting 75 trades and selling 5.8 million tons of coal, generating USD 513.8 million in revenue;
  • Resolution of contract bottlenecks, increasing monthly coal transport from 1.7 million to 2.8 million tons — a 1.6-fold rise;
  • Improvement in equipment readiness from 56% to 81%;
  • Introduction of a Dashboard system enabling real-time monitoring of mining and transportation;
  • Development of a mid-term strategy (2026–2029) through government–company collaboration;
  • Commissioning of a new mine at the Tsankhi section, allowing a high-quality 1/3 coking coal to be sold at international prices,
  • A 40 percent increase in unit product economic efficiency.

Coal export of “Erdenes Tavantolgoi” this September marks the highest monthly export in the company’s history. The company exported 3.2 million tons of coal in September 2025, through Gashuunsukhait and Khangi border ports, while in August the company exported 2.7 million tons of coal.


During the special regime period, the team was tasked with accelerating national economic growth, increasing foreign exchange reserves, ensuring implementation of the National Wealth Fund Law, improving coordination across sectors, streamlining coal transportation, loading, and border-crossing processes, preventing potential risks, and strengthening the company’s management, control, discipline, and accountability. They were also instructed to address operational issues promptly.


Prime Minister Zandanshatar emphasized that the Special Plenipotentiary Representatives successfully fulfilled the Government’s directives and played a key role in stabilizing the economy, boosting foreign reserves, and restoring normal operations at “Erdenes Tavantolgoi.”  He expressed his gratitude to the team and the company’s staff for delivering tangible results. The continuation of the representatives’ mandate will be decided in a forthcoming Cabinet meeting.


The Prime Minister also noted that “Erdenes Tavantolgoi” played a vital role in contributing to Mongolia’s 5.7 percent economic growth. The Premier highlighted that coal trading and sales will increase further in October, November, and December, which will raise budget revenues and lead to a budget surplus.


Looking ahead, PM Zandanshatar stressed the need to reduce company expenditures, enhance efficiency and productivity, adopt technological solutions to ensure transparency in procurement and contracts, transform “Erdenes Tavantolgoi” into an open joint-stock company with public participation, and implement the National Wealth Fund Law by increasing company valuation and stock value.



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