Rio Tinto will invest $1.1 billion to expand its “low-carbon” aluminum smelter at Complexe Jonquière in Quebec, Canada, the Anglo-Australian mining giant said on Monday.

The investment will boost annual capacity by about 160,000 metric tonnes of primary aluminum, the global miner said, adding it was sufficient to power 400,000 electric cars.

Pressure to cut greenhouse gas emissions has prompted Rio, Alcoa Corp, and other aluminum manufacturers to launch a raft of products with lower carbon emissions.

The Canadian government has been involved in such efforts. It has invested in the ELYSIS technology pioneered by Alcoa and Rio Tinto that eliminates all CO2 emissions and replaces them with oxygen.

“This announcement brings us one step closer to the deployment of the first ELYSIS pots, which will make Quebec the leader in greenhouse gas-free aluminum production,” said Pierre Fitzgibbon, Quebec’s minister of economy, innovation and energy.

The Quebec government will provide up to $113 million in support for the latest smelter expansion.

“This is the most significant investment in our aluminum business for more than a decade…,” Rio Tinto CEO Jakob Stausholm said.

Construction will run over two-and-a-half years, with commissioning of the new pots expected to start in the first half of 2026 and the smelter fully ramped up by the end of 2026.

The project will create up to 1,000 jobs during peak construction, with about 100 permanent jobs.

The investment has been factored into the capital expenditure for 2023 to 2025, Rio Tinto said, retaining the capex guidance of $9 billion to $10 billion for 2024 and 2025.

The expansion will coincide with the gradual closure of potrooms at the Arvida smelter on the same site, Rio said.

Rio and the Canadian government also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen supply chains for low-carbon primary metals, critical minerals and other value-added products, the miner said.

(By Harish Sridharan; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)

The 9th Meeting of the Mongolian-German Economic Committee convened in Ulaanbaatar on June 5, 2023. The meeting was chaired by Mr.S.Narantsogt, CEO of "Erdenes Mongol" LLC, and Mr.Hans-Christoph Brumberg, CEO and Asia Regional Director of “WPD” LLC, which operates in the field of development and financing of renewable energy projects, the head of the German side of the committee.

Representatives from private enterprises and organizations of the two countries participated in the meeting and exchanged opinions on the possibilities of developing business cooperation.

We have discussed and got detailed clarification from Mr.S.Narantsogt, CEO of "Erdenes Mongol" LLC, about the issues discussed at the meeting and the results of the meeting.

-First of all, please tell us about when was the Mongolian-German Economic Committee established and what are its responsibilities.

The representatives of the meeting of the Mongolian-German Economic Committee aim to make a real contribution to the development of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries. The Agreement between the Government of Mongolia and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany on "Cooperation in Minerals, Industry and Technology" was first signed in October 2011.

The Economic Committee has an important role in implementing the agreement, connecting Mongolian and German business owners, opening the doors to joint projects and programs, presenting the policies implemented by the governments of the two countries to business owners, and thus strengthening the relations between the economy and citizens of the two countries.

-What is the level of economic cooperation between the two countries?

Mongolia established diplomatic relations with Germany in 1974. Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

After the pandemic, trade, and economic cooperation between the two countries have been restored, and by 2022, the trade turnover has reached 208 million US dollars. Out of this, the total export amount reached 26.0 million US dollars and the total import amount reached 182.8 million US dollars. Mongolia mainly exported food and agricultural staples and imported technical equipment, staple food products, and petroleum products from Germany.

Relations and cooperation between the two countries are rapidly developing in the defense, education, culture, environment, and humanitarian sectors.

-What issues were discussed at this 9th Meeting of the Mongolia-German Economic Committee?

More than 80 participants representing 40 entities from the mining, renewable energy, logistics, and education sectors participated in the meeting and exchanged opinions on the development of cooperation. Also, private sector enterprises and organizations showcased their prospective projects, while government ministries presented policy and legislative reforms.

-In which fields of the economy did the Mongolian side express their interest in cooperation with Germany?

Specific proposals for cooperation in the fields of minerals, renewable energy, education, transport, and logistics were made at this meeting. For example, it has been emphasized that the primary focus of our bilateral cooperation should be on facilitating German investment in the exploration, extraction, and processing of critical and rare minerals to foster a sustainable supply from Mongolia.

The two countries believe that it is possible to jointly implement large-scale projects in the mineral and industrial sectors. For example, to process iron ore and produce high-quality steel. In addition, it has discussed the possibility of increasing the investment of German companies for conveyor systems in the stripping and extraction of open-pit mines. They expressed their interest in mutually beneficial cooperation by establishing a clear direction for partnership in collaborative research, exploration, extraction, and processing of specific rare metals and rare earth elements.

-What are the solutions for renewable energy cooperation between the two countries?

Considering the persistent challenges faced by the wind power plant project over the years, it is deemed essential to present the following proposals to the intergovernmental working group as a top priority in this sector.

There is a need for cooperation between the parties in the implementation of the wind farm contract.

In addition, we noted in the conclusion of the meeting that exploring alternative solutions and technological advancements to make further opportunities through government grants and support for generating non-fluctuating electricity at the wind plants, which have been commissioned by private sector investors from Germany should be considered.

-What solutions do you see at the government level to solve the problem of the high cost of renewable energy production?

It is suggested to issue a governmental decision that promotes the establishment of a systematic framework for collecting renewable energy payments in one dedicated account or fund and use that fund only for the purpose of addressing the challenges associated with renewable energy production.

In addition, in case of building a new renewable energy station in the future, it is advisable to provide the standard technological requirements for the construction of the station in the combined form of solar and wind with an energy storage solution and ensure its implementation.

-What are the possibilities of cooperation with Germany in the field of education?

Within the framework of supporting companies investing in and operating in the mining and renewable energy, it was considered possible to strengthen the infrastructure of teaching and research laboratories in Mongolian universities and foster the advancement of specialized training programs. In particular, both parties agreed to diversify the activities of the German-Mongolian Institute for Resource and Technology in Nalaikh in the field of science and technology.

In this context, relevant institutions from both countries must collaborate to ensure that students from the German-Mongolian Institute for Resource and Technology, as well as those studying specialized professions in Germany, have the opportunity to receive training within German-invested companies operating in Mongolia.

-From the German side, they made an offer that can be implemented in the air transport sector in our country. What was their offer?

Given the vastness of Mongolia, the German side presented that it is possible to develop the general aviation sector, which is low-cost flight services with small helicopters. As it is important for the development of mining and tourism, the parties agreed during the negotiations that the civil aviation authorities of the two countries should work together to come up with specific solutions in a short period of time.

To summarize, the 9th meeting of the Mongolia-German Economic Committee concluded successfully, promoting new ideas and initiatives among the two countries' private sector institutions, addressing the challenges faced by these institutions, and proposing viable solutions.

Mongolia ranked 74th in the UN e-Government Development Index in 2022, moving up from 92nd (by 18 positions) in two years. Mongolia ranked 92 out of 193 countries in the UN e-government ranking in 2020.

This list is determined by indicators of online service, human capital and communication infrastructure.

The growing role of e-government in promoting participatory and inclusive development is accompanied by the growing demand for transparency and accountability in all regions of the world.

Former Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon will visit Mongolia on June 12 to take part in the Trans-Altai Sustainability Dialogue.

The Dialogue is co-hosted by the Mongolian Parliament, Stanford University’s Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, the Ban Ki-moon Foundation For a Better Future, and Ewha Womans University. It will take place in Ulaanbaatar on June 13-14.

The event is aimed at stimulating cooperative action toward achieving the United Nations-adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and expediting the implementation of gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Ban Ki-moon first visited Mongolia in 2006 when he was the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea. He has since visited Mongolia in 2009 and 2019 while serving as UN Secretary General.

The prime minister’s trade envoy to Mongolia lobbied the Electoral Commission to permit a £10,000 donation to his party association from a “Mongolian friend”, documents reveal.

Daniel Kawczynski, the Conservative MP for Shrewsbury, contacted the independent electoral watchdog on 20 April, days after his return from a week-long trip to Mongolia in his role as trade envoy, accompanied by the UK ambassador.

Kawczynski said the “Mongolian friend” was “a personal contact, and was separate to my role as an envoy”. He declined to identify the would-be donor and said he travelled to Mongolia on a regular basis in a personal capacity as well as in his role as trade envoy.

He told the commission he did “not understand why British passport holders should be treated differently from foreign passport holders when it comes to political parties” and requested a meeting at the House of Commons with the watchdog’s chief executive, Shaun McNally, to discuss his “concerns” on the longstanding political finance rules banning donations from overseas donors.

Kawczynski claimed that “many jurisdictions around the world” permitted political donations from foreign passport holders. Research by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, a UN observer, suggests 70% of countries ban foreign donations to political parties.

The letter was sent from Kawczynski’s parliamentary email address. The members’ handbook on the use of the taxpayer-funded accounts say they should not be used “for activities that could be considered party political campaigning or fundraising”.

In a statement, Kawczynski said that he used his Commons email as he “wanted to seek advice and clarification in my capacity as a regulated donee (a member of parliament)”.

Kawczynski added: “Throughout I have followed the prevailing law on political finance, and I took advice from the Electoral Commission to ensure that I do.”

In a subsequent call with the Guardian, Kawczynski confirmed the donation had been offered to his party association, not to him personally.

The email was copied to the chair of the 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady, the chief whip, Simon Hart, and to another member of the whips’ office, Jo Churchill.

Kawczynski said he included them in his email to the watchdog as part of his attempts to “understand, ask and challenge, collectively, with colleagues” the rules on electoral finance.

This thirst for knowledge came as he had a potential £10,000 donation offered to his local association. Kawczynski said he benefited from the resources of his local association. “They spend funds on literature, promoting me, and all the other things that they do to support me as the member of parliament.”

Kawczynski said taking a donation from a “nefarious state” would be inappropriate, but “taking it from a friend who you’ve known from many years from overseas and having the ability to secure donations from overseas donors is certainly for debate”.

“These rules and regulations shouldn’t be always constantly pickled in aspic in perpetuity. Things do change, and I think it’s perfectly permissible for parliamentarians, people at the cutting edge of trying to secure donations for their local parties, to be able to test and challenge and scrutinise and debate, yes.”

A government spokesperson said foreign political donations would remain banned, adding: “One of the Electoral Commission’s roles is to provide advice on such matters to political parties and regulated donees.”

Singapore will work with Mongolia to identify potential carbon projects that can yield carbon credits supporting the two countries’ climate ambitions, said the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) on Sunday (Jun 11).

MSE said that an interagency working group will be established with Mongolia’s Ministry of Environment to implement a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that was signed last Friday.

The MOU was signed by Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu and Mongolia’s Minister for Environment and Tourism Bat-Erdene Bat-Ulzii. Fu said the MOU underscores the two countries’ commitment to collaborate on carbon markets, aligned with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

Article 6 establishes a carbon accounting mechanism known as “corresponding adjustment”, which ensures that countries correct their country-to-country carbon transfer and trading mechanisms towards their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This ensures that one carbon credit is not claimed by more than one entity.

NDCs are a country’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to its climate impacts.

“Such cooperation is critical for countries to advance climate ambition and accelerate climate action,” Fu added.

In the West, the name Genghis Khan conjures a collective memory of ravaging hordes, devastation and destruction. Indeed, when the Mongols swept through Russia, Hungary, and Poland in the 13th century, and began attacking the feudal principalities of Germany and the Holy Roman Empire, some believed the invaders were sent by God as punishment for Europe’s sins. Because some of these armed horsemen called themselves “Tatars,” rumor spread among the terrified populace that they were not human; they were a demon army sent by God from Tartarus — from hell.

But in Mongolia, Genghis is the founding father of the nation: the hero who rose from a humble herding family to unite the tribes of Mongolia and in his lifetime conquer much of China, Central Asia and Persia. Subsequent generations of khans created the largest empire our world has ever known, encompassing all of China, south to Burma and Vietnam, Tibet, the top half of India, all of Siberia and Central Asia, Persia, the Caucasus, Russia, the better part of the Balkans, Eastern and Central Europe. To mark the 800th anniversary of the founding of the Mongol Empire, Mongolia constructed the world’s largest equestrian statue: a 40 meter (120 feet) tall, glittering, stainless steel monument of Genghis Khan on his horse. Standing in the middle of a vast green valley, 54 km outside of Ulaan Bataar, the capital, I found the statue simply awe inspiring.

The Genghis Khan monument sits on top of a circular base with 36 pillars, signifying the linear of 36 khans who ruled the Mongol Empire. The European design elements in the base are also deliberate, such as the Corinthian and Ionian columns. These signify the Mongolians’ brief conquest of Europe in the 13th century.

Today, Mongolia is considered a small country. Geographically, it’s twice the size of Texas, but with a population of only 3 million wedged in betweeen Russia and China, its global significance is mostly as a source of minerals (copper, coal, uranium) and as a buffer between those two Asian giants. Fully half the population lives in Ulaan Bataar, and so the rest of this vast land seems as empty as it always was, even back in the days of the khans.

It may seem strange that in Genghis’ time the Mongols were massively outnumbered by the peoples they conquered. Indeed, the story of how Genghis Khan and the Mongols transformed Asia — and Europe — is both fascinating and woefully unknown to most of us, including me. I did some reading prior to our visit to Mongolia, and this book in particular, by historian Jack Weatherfield, opened my eyes:

Most of Mongolia is as vast and empty today as it was in the time of the Khans.

In a nutshell, Genghis Khan’s early life was filled with cruelty and hardship —the murder of his father by a rival tribe, the kidnapping (and rape) of his wife…all too common in those days. He killed his older brother to become leader of his household, and then gradually consolidated control, despite many powerful enemies and the betrayal of some of his closest allies and friends. His biography is preserved in a document known as The Secret History of the Mongols, which was written shortly after his death.

By his mid-forties, Genghis had united Mongolia, and then set his sights on the riches of China. Perhaps a life of constant warfare made him thirsty for more conquest. Whatever the motives, the ferocity, tactics and strategy of the steppe horsemen made the Mongol army an invincible force. Prosperous but complacent kingdoms were no match for them. His early successes convinced Genghis that God wanted him to unite and rule the world. And that is what he set out to do.

The extent of the Mongol Empire

The Mongols’ modus operandi was quite rational: When they approached a new city or kingdom, they would send emissaries, explaining the Mongol mission of global conquest. If the city surrendered, it would be required to pay tribute and contribute to the growing Mongol army, but otherwise left alone. If the leaders resisted, the city would be destroyed and stripped of riches. The aristocracy would be killed, and the citizens enslaved. Many cities responded to this choice by executing the emissaries. Sometimes the Mongols sent two or three parties to patiently explain what was going to happen. But in the end, it came down to slaughter, sack, enslave — again and again and again.

Kievian Rus was one such kingdom that killed the emissaries. Kiev was sacked, and for some 250 years the Mongol “Golden Horde” ruled a region that extended from Ukraine to Siberia — the first Russian empire. The Russian Orthodox Church decamped from Kiev, and set up a new national headquarters at a remote northern vassal state called Moscovy. In 1480, as the horde fell apart, the Rus aristocracy in Moscovy threw off the “Tatar yoke” and established a new Tsarist Russia. But, they kept many of the features of the Mongol’s asiatic administrative state, which helps explain the social and political differences between Russia and Europe today.

As the Mongol Empire expanded, riches flowed from the sacked cities and tribute-paying towns back to Mongolia. Imagine what the transformation must have been like for the herding, tent-dwelling tribes that stayed home. Suddenly, they were swamped with silks from China, jewels from India, riches beyond measure from Persia.

In the mountains near the Genghis Khan Monument is an outdoor museum that replicates 13th century mongol encampments, including this one, of Genghis Khan. No palaces for the Khans!

Despite their new luxuries, the Mongols resisted changing their lifestyle, preferring their mobile tents to palaces. When, under Genghis’ grandson, Kublai Khan, the Jin Empire of China was finally conquered, he built a new northern capital Beijing, close to the steppes. Within the captial he built a Forbidden City for the Mongol overlords. Behind these high walls were wide, empty courtyards, where the Mongols erected their tents and kept their own animals for milk and meat — so that they could maintain their nomadic lifestyle while ruling from the city.

What derailed the Mongols from their conquest of Europe? A family feud. A fight for succession brought the sons of Genghis back from Europe to Mongolia. Much wrangling ensued. The Europeans took advantage of the lull to stop their own squabbling, build better castles, and prepare to defend themselves. As a result, except for Ukraine and Russia, Europe staved off Mongol rule.

Luckily for Europe, subsequent generations of Mongol rulers lost interest in conquest and turned to trade. Throughout the 14th century, the Mongol Peace reigned throughout Eurasia. Trade routes flourished. When Marco Polo went to China, he did so along the Mongol-made Silk Road, staying at well-appointed Mongol trading stations all along the way. (In China, he worked for Kublai Khan). It was a time of incredible prosperity, as goods from Asia flowed west into Europe, and goods from Europe flowed east.

What brought the end to the Mongol Peace? A foe more powerful than either the Mongols or Europeans: a tiny flea. More specifically, a bacteria that lived in the flea. When infected fleas bit humans, they died fast and in great agony. The spreading infection turned the blood beneath the skin black, and so the illness became known as the Black Death. The plague originated in China (sound familiar?), but the global trade network of the Mongols enabled it to spread quickly all the way to Europe. The plague devastated populations everywhere. It weakened the pan-Asian Mongol Empire. Eventually it fell apart — though various genetic and cultural descendants of the khans would continue to rule parts of Central and South Asia for centuries more.

In 1921, when Mongolia was invaded by Russia and became a Soviet satellite state, the memory of Genghis Khan and the conquest of Russia by the Golden Horde was expunged. So, in 1991, when Mongolia emerged as a new, democratic state, the people reclaimed Genghis Khan as an important part of their history and their national identity.

I climbed the stairs inside of the Genghis Khan monument to emerge on the silver mane of his horse, together with a dozen or so Mongolian school kids. I got it that the country needed such a big statue to impress upon the next generation the story of the man who made Mongolia a nation, and in so doing, shaped the modern world.

BY Tim Ward, Mature Flâneur

Author, communications expert and publisher of Changemakers Books, Tim is now a full time Mature Flaneur, wandering Europe with Teresa, his beloved wife.

Selection of contractors and funding for the first phase (300 MW) of the Tavantolgoi 450 MW Thermal Power Plant project, to be implemented under a turnkey contract.

Tavantolgoi Thermal Power Plant state owned Co., Ltd will implement the Tavantolgoi Thermal Power Plant project in the two phases: 300MW and 150MW. Currently, the company is working to select the contractor and funding for the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract on turnkey conditions for the first phase of 300MW.

The Ministry of Energy is pleased to announce a tender for the selection of the contractor and funding for the first phase of 300 MW of the plant, which will be implemented under a turnkey contract, and invites all eligible interested parties to submit their proposals accordingly to participate in the tender.