Ulaanbaatar, March 26, 2025 /MONTSAME/. More than 1,000 coal trucks are crossing the border daily through the Gashuunsukhait port of Mongolia. The port handles 55 percent of coal exports and 60 percent of copper concentrate exports.

Eight domestic and foreign-invested companies operating in the Nariinsukhait deposits export coal through the Shiveekhuren port. Last year, 24 million tons of coal were exported. Aiming to reduce the coal mining cost and increase the volume of exports, the companies plan to export 25-26 million tons of coal in 2025, and the companies presented the issues they are facing to the Members of the Government.

To optimize coal transportation, urgently resolve the coal stockpiles at the border, intensify the export of mining products, and increase foreign exchange reserves, a Government Working Group visited the ports of Khangi, Gashuunsukhait, and Shiveekhuren. The Working Group was headed by the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Tuvaan Tsevegdorj, Minister of Finance Javkhlan Bold, and Minister of Road and Transport Delgersaikhan Borkhuu. The Ministers gave instructions to relevant officials and decided to present some proposals made by the companies for discussion at the Cabinet meeting.

The port of Khangi is one of the largest export and import ports in Mongolia and by expanding its capacity, the port would be an important gateway to increase foreign trade turnover. Also, by connecting the borders of the two countries by rail, the Khangi port will become the main export gateway, sharing the load of the Zamiin-Uud and Gashuunsukhait ports and supporting the planned mining project.

Representatives of the companies emphasized that mines are getting deeper, transportation distances are longer, soil stripping is increasing, and the cost of coal mining is increasing every year. They requested that the benchmark price for calculating loyalty to coal be reconsidered and noted that there is a shortage of labor in the mining industry.

The Ministers assigned relevant officials to improve the recent slowdown in coal transport at Shiveekhuren port due to internal network failures and prevent network failures further.

The working group visited the construction site of the Shiveekhuren-Sekhe port narrow-gauge cross-border railway, container terminal, AGV transportation, and the site of the coalbed methane project, implemented by Telmen Resource company. Three coalbed methane exploration projects are being implemented in Umnugobi aimag. Coalbed methane can be used for new sources of energy and heat and reduce air pollution, reported the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources.