Rosatom, S. Korea's KHNP, France's EDF, China's CNNC shortlisted as potential vendors for future NPP in Kazakhstan www.interfax.com

Kazakhstan has formed a shortlist of potential suppliers of reactor technologies for a project to build the first Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in the country, the Kazakh Nuclear Energy Agency said in a statement on Thursday.
"The shortlist of potential suppliers of reactor technologies has been formed. The list includes the Russian state corporation Rosatom alongside South Korea's KHNP, France's EDF and China's CNNC," the statement said.
A competitive dialogue with potential suppliers of NPP construction technology is now complete, it said. The supplier or consortium to implement the project will be decided by an interagency commission in line with national interests.
Kazakh authorities set up an intergovernmental commission to examine offers from all vendors. The NPP is expected to be built by an international consortium of companies.
Intergovernmental agreements and contracts needed for the project are expected to be signed in November this year.
The construction was approved in a 2024 nationwide referendum. The NPP was initially expected to be built by 2035 but the Kazakh Energy Ministry said later vendors would be asked to launch the first NPP power unit sooner, within eight years. The project is estimated to cost $10-12 billion.
Last December the Kazakh government approved the Almaty region's Zhambyl district as the construction site.
At present Kazakhstan is considering four suppliers of the more powerful reactor technologies: France, China, Russia and South Korea. One reactor will cost on average $5 billion, according to the ministry's data.
Three NPPs are expected to be built under the national nuclear cluster project. A comprehensive construction plan will be prepared in the second quarter of 2025, the ministry said.

Export Revenues Increased by Nine Percent Compared to the Previous Week www.montsame.mn

The Working Group, in charge of intensifying exports and increasing foreign currency reserves, organized its fourth meeting and presented an update on Mongolia's export revenue, which increased by USD 237 million, or 9 percent, compared to the previous week.
Director of the Financial and Fiscal Research Department of the Ministry of Finance of Mongolia Zolboo Ganbold remarked, “The increase in export revenues was driven by a 26 percent rise in copper concentrate exports and a 4 percent increase in iron-ore exports. Meanwhile, the foreign currency reserves remain unchanged at USD 5.0 billion, the same level as last week.”
In addition, Chief Executive Officer of “Erdenes Mongol” LLC Narantsogt Sanjaa presented how state-owned mining companies are implementing the directives issued by the Government of Mongolia. CEO Narantsogt said, “We are focusing on increasing exports by USD 442.5 million and delaying certain major investment projects worth USD 137.2 million, aiming at generating a total of USD 580 million. Moreover, we are working towards attracting USD 220 million in project investments and securing USD 200 million in pre-financing under the ‘Green Loan’ initiative. In total, we are working towards increasing the foreign currency reserves by USD 1 billion.”
At the meeting, participants discussed several key issues, including the feasibility of trading low-grade coal and iron ore via the national commodity exchange, and establishing conditions for transportation through regional roads. It was decided that these matters would be submitted to the Cabinet of Mongolia for further consideration.

Discrimination based on social status named ‘Scholarship’ www.ubpost.mn

Whether one is a herder, a worker, or an intellectual, all are entitled to equal rights. Article 14.2 of the Constitution of Mongolia clearly states: “No person may be discriminated against on the basis of ethnic origin, language, race, age, sex, social origin or status, property, occupation or post, religion, opinion, or education. Everyone is a person before the law.”
However, the government seems to be further fueling discrimination based on social origin. Recently, during a session of the State Great Khural, the Minister of Education, P.Naranbayar announced a proposal to provide free university education for one child from herder families. According to the proposed Law on Herders, this would apply only if the student chooses to major in fields such as livestock production, feed and pasture management at state-owned universities. The funding for this initiative has already been included in the budget of the Education Loan Fund, and the program is expected to launch in the 2025–2026 academic year.
Critics argue that instead of improving the quality of life and working conditions of the approximately 190,000 citizens who fall under the “herder” category, the state is fostering a dependency mindset by offering excessive welfare. The list of such welfare-style measures is long: the government already covers 50 percent of herders’ social insurance contributions, includes them in housing loan programs, provides livestock, and gives incentives for meat and dairy production.
Now, adding free higher education to the list is seen by many as an excessive welfare measure and even a violation to the Constitution. Moreover, limiting the scholarship to specific majors like livestock and pasture management infringes on the children’s right to freely choose their field of study.
Herders have long educated their children without needing handouts. Many are financially capable of paying for their children’s tuition thanks to the income they generate from their livestock. And if they struggle, they can access special herder loans to finance education. So why should this benefit be limited exclusively to herder families?
Parents working in the public and private sectors also scrape together savings or take out bank loans to send their children to university. Ordinary citizens who have paid into the social insurance system consistently for over a decade now wonder why their children don’t receive the same educational support. There is growing sentiment that the government should not favor one social group over another but instead create equal opportunities for all.
Only 2 majors qualified
It’s unlikely that a herder living in a remote mountain valley is demanding, “Send my child to university for free.” More realistically, they care about access to water and pasture, and would rather see investments in processing facilities that add value to raw livestock products. That would actually benefit herders in the long run. But the government’s move seems less about genuine care and more about playing the role of benevolent leaders for political gain.
During a recent session of Parliament, lawmakers agreed that since the Law on Herders includes a provision to offer free university education to their children, it simply must be implemented. Yet Mongolia has no shortage of laws that are passed and never enforced. Whether this law will be put into actual practice remains to be seen.
When asked about it, O.Siilegmaa, Director of the Education Loan Fund’s Working Office, explained: “According to Article 4.2.5 of the Law on Herders, the government will cover tuition fees only for students pursuing degrees in livestock, feed, or pasture management. However, the livestock science program isn’t even accredited. For instance, this year, the Mongolian University of Life Sciences didn’t enroll any students in that field at all. Currently, only nine students in total are studying feed and pasture management.”
She further noted that herder children will be awarded scholarships under the same criteria as other domestic university students. Additionally, proof must be provided that their parent has been a registered herder for at least 10 years. This system mirrors existing scholarships granted to children of teachers and educational workers—on the condition that, after graduation, the student agrees to work in a public educational institution for at least three years in rural areas or five years in Ulaanbaatar City. A formal agreement must be signed to secure the scholarship. The same conditions will apply to herder children.
Starting from September 1, this provision of the Law on Herders is expected to be implemented. However, details such as how much funding has been allocated or how many students will benefit remain unclear.
From what’s been explained, only two majors qualify for the scholarship, one of which lacks accreditation. It seems the Minister of Education rushed the announcement without thoroughly evaluating the current academic programs. The proverb “Sharpen your tools before you start milking the cow” fits well here. Logically, a degree program should first be accredited before student enrollment is considered.
There’s also concern that well-connected, wealthy herders with large herds will take advantage of this opportunity, while poorer families with fewer livestock might miss out. In Mongolia, it’s no secret that many opportunities come down to people whom you know rather than who really need it.
With no clear figure on how many herder children will be supported or how much budget has been allocated, this initiative remains murky at best.
No legal basis for offering free education to civil servants’ children
Recently, salary comparisons between certain professions have sparked heated debate online. A breakdown comparing five occupations revealed that teachers earn the least, with monthly salaries ranging from 1.5 to 1.8 million MNT. Doctors followed, earning between 1.4 and 2 million MNT. In contrast, employees of public sanitation and maintenance companies (commonly referred to as TUK), as well as bus drivers, reportedly earn around 3.5 million MNT, while managers of state-owned enterprises receive as much as 6 million MNT.
The Mayor of Ulaanbaatar, Kh.Nyambaatar, has been particularly vocal in his support for TUK workers, prioritizing their wages and benefits—a move that, in itself, is not entirely unjustified. However, his attempts to gain popularity have gone too far. At a leadership meeting of city officials this past April, he declared that TUK workers’ salaries would be raised to 1,000 USD and promised that their children would be sent abroad for free education.
In fact, he pledged that an initial group of 100 children would be sent to study in Germany. This begs the question: are children of others who work in the capital city not equally deserving of such opportunities? By singling out a specific occupational group, the mayor once again opens the door to discrimination based on social status.
While comparing different professions may not always be fair, one thing is clear: working with people—educating children as a teacher, or saving lives as a doctor—continues to be grossly undervalued in our society. Everyone is aware of this reality. Yet instead of addressing the root causes, our politicians often resort to handouts, promises of free education, or cash payments to pacify the public—an all-too-familiar political tactic.
In truth, there is no legal provision in Mongolia that allows the state to fund free education for the children of TUK employees. O.Siilegmaa confirmed this, stating that this issue falls outside the scope of the fund, which only finances higher education for students who meet specific legal and program-based criteria.
Meanwhile, according to the Mayor Kh.Nyambaatar himself, the salaries of public works employees are now approaching 1,000 USD. After deductions for social insurance and other contributions, they reportedly take home around 3.1 million monthly MNT.
Over 500 students received scholarships (pod garchig)
Since January 1 of last year, the General Law on Education has included a provision stating that one child of a teacher or staff member who has worked for at least 15 consecutive years in a public or state-run educational institution is eligible to study free of charge at a university, as long as they pursue a high-demand and priority profession. Based on this provision, the Education Loan Fund has granted scholarships to over 500 students.
These scholarships are awarded only to students who are enrolled in accredited programs that rank among the top 50 and are aligned with the country’s current workforce needs. Students studying to become teachers are also eligible for this scholarship, as part of efforts to encourage more young people into the education sector.
When asked about the budget allocated for educating the children of long-serving teachers and staff, the authorities from the Education Loan Fund stated that the funding varies depending on how many applicants meet the specific eligibility criteria each year.
Students who receive these scholarships are expected to work in their field of study after graduation, while separate non-repayable financial aid is available throughout the duration of their studies, requiring only that the student maintains satisfactory academic performance.
Such aid is typically extended to students from vulnerable backgrounds—for instance, those with disabilities, orphans, children whose parents are disabled, students from Tsaatan, Uriankhai, or Tuvan minority households, those who have received national recognition for calligraphy, or those from large families with three or more children simultaneously enrolled in bachelor’s programs.
In short, there is a clear distinction between merit- or criteria-based scholarships and grant-style assistance. Yet the public is being misled by vague promises of free education, particularly in the case of herder families, where the issue has been framed more as a political move than a well-researched policy.
It raises the broader question: will our society continue to treat its citizens differently based on profession or social status? Teachers don’t dedicate their lives to education simply because it might one day secure a free university seat for their child. Nor would responsible herder parents force their children to pursue a profession that goes against their interests and aspirations, simply for the sake of tuition relief. As for sanitation workers and TUK employees, are they meant to hold on to hollow promises of their children studying in Germany?
Policies designed for applause rather than substance—those not rooted in data or genuine public need—rarely hold up in the real world. And yet, our leaders continue to use such tactics to pacify, rather than empower, the people.

800 physicians voiced concerns www.ubpost.mn

Minister of Health T.Munkhsaikhan has concluded a six-day series of nationwide meetings titled “Listening to Doctors” which was aimed at directly engaging with physicians to hear their concerns and provide policy-level responses to their pressing issues. The sessions were held in both in-person and online formats, reaching approximately 800 medical professionals across the country.
The initiative provided a platform for healthcare workers to voice their concerns regarding financing through the Health Insurance Fund, salary disparities, and rising cases of workplace harassment by patients and their families. Doctors highlighted a troubling increase in threats to their professional reputation, including unauthorized photos and video recordings taken during clinical work.
In response, Minister T.Munkhsaikhan emphasized the government’s ongoing efforts to improve the welfare and working conditions of healthcare workers. “Doctors’ salaries have steadily increased over the past four years, and further increases are being planned,” he stated. He also noted that efforts are underway to fully settle the outstanding debts of the Health Insurance Fund and address related financial challenges.
Key legislative changes are also on the horizon. The Ministry of Health is preparing to submit the law which is focused on the legal environment of the health sector and the Health Insurance Fund Law for discussion during the upcoming autumn parliamentary session. Additionally, the minister affirmed the government’s commitment to introducing legal measures that would protect healthcare workers from defamation and physical threats.
“We will implement policies that not only safeguard the legal status and social well-being of medical professionals but also place greater emphasis on the intersection of health and education,” T.Munkhsaikhan said.
The “Listening to Doctors” series marks a significant step toward bridging the gap between frontline healthcare providers and policymakers, ensuring that those who care for the nation’s health are also heard and protected.

Company owning “Tugrug Nuur” coal deposit faces serious criminal allegations www.gogo.mn

ADB Report: Mongolia’s Economy to Grow by 6.6 Percent in 2025 www.montsame.mn

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) forecasts that Mongolia’s economy will grow by 6.6 percent in 2025 and by 5.9 percent in 2026.
In its flagship economic report, Asian Development Outlook (ADO) April 2025, Mongolia’s economic growth slightly slowed in 2024, it is expected to accelerate in the coming years. Key drivers include the mining sector—particularly the increased production of copper concentrate at the Oyu Tolgoi mine—and the anticipated recovery of the livestock sector, which suffered significant losses in 2023 and 2024.
ADB Mongolia Resident Mission, Senior Economist Eduard Faber stated, “Mongolia managed to maintain economic resilience in 2024. The sharp contraction in the agriculture sector was offset by strong growth in mining and services. The mining sector will remain the main engine of the economy in 2025 and 2026. Domestic demand, infrastructure investment, and the gradual recovery of agriculture will also contribute to growth. However, risks remain due to dependence on commodity exports, especially coal.”
Government spending and increased energy prices have pushed inflation to 9.1 percent. While inflation pressure will remain high this year, it is expected to ease slightly to 7 percent in 2026. Exports are also projected to rise as mining output increases. However, imports will likely grow due to purchases of essential equipment and materials for investment projects, which may in turn put some pressure on the exchange rate.
The report highlights that these projections remain subject to change due to a range of potential risks, including volatility in commodity prices, particularly copper and coal—a downturn in the real estate market of the People's Republic of China, weather-related delays in the recovery of the agricultural sector, and inflation exceeding the projected rate of 9.1 percent, which could necessitate further tightening of monetary policy. While tariffs imposed by the United States and potential spillover effects are expected to have limited direct impact on Mongolia, the Asian Development Bank cautioned that a deceleration in demand from China may lead to indirect repercussions for the Mongolian economy.

Details on “Tavantolgoi Thermal Power Plant” Project Presented to the Cabinet www.montsame.mn

 During the regular session of the Cabinet of Mongolia on April 9, 2025, Minister of Energy Choijilsuren Battogtokh presented the progress of the “Tavantolgoi Thermal Power Plant” Project. 
The Mongolian Government’s 2024–2028 Action Plan and the New Recovery Policy include the construction of a 450 MW thermal power plant at Tavantolgoi, aiming at ensuring domestic electricity supply for the Oyu Tolgoi and Tavantolgoi deposits, as well as other strategically important mining projects in the southern region of Mongolia.
The tender for selecting the contractor for the construction and installation of the plant was announced in June 2023. However, participants in the tender filed lawsuits, and the dispute resolution process continued until December 2024. The Supervisory Power of the Supreme Court of Mongolia issued a ruling dismissing the plaintiff’s claims entirely. 
Relevant officials have been instructed to take measures to apply the legal and regulatory framework in connection with the challenges related to selecting the project’s contractor and financier.

‘Everyone is breathing this’: how just trying to stay warm is killing thousands a year in the world’s coldest capital www.theguardian.com

Sludge Incineration Plant to Be Built in Ulaanbaatar www.montsame.mn

As part of the 24 Mega Projects for Ulaanbaatar City Development, a Sludge Incineration Plant with a daily capacity of 250 cubic meters will be built in 2025-2027.
The Plant will dewater and dry sludge from both the New Central Wastewater Treatment Plant of Ulaanbaatar City and domestic sources prior to incineration. This process will contribute to the reduction of soil and water pollution. The facility is designed to process 250 cubic meters of sludge per day, converting it into approximately 5–6 cubic meters of ash. In other words, the Sludge Incineration Plant is expected to handle 238 tons of sludge daily, with a total sludge reserve projected at 843,200 cubic meters. The project site will encompass approximately 40,000 square meters and is planned to be situated in front of the New Central Wastewater Treatment Plant of Ulaanbaatar City.
Following deep processing and dewatering, both domestic and industrial sludge from Ulaanbaatar's water treatment facility will undergo incineration. Legacy sludge will be pre-filtered and dried prior to combustion. The gas generated during incineration may be utilized for power generation, while low-pressure steam can serve as a thermal source for the drying process. The ash produced during gas purification will be buried and repurposed as construction material. The Sludge Incineration Plant is specifically designed to simultaneously treat both sewage sludge and associated odors.

A Total of 655.5 Thousand Hectares of Land to Be Cultivated This Spring www.montsame.mn

At the meeting of the Standing Committee on Environment, Food, and Agriculture of the State Great Khural on April 8, 2025, Minister of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry Enkhbayar Jadamba delivered a report "Preparations for Spring Sowing".
A total of 655.5 thousand hectares of land will be cultivated for sowing this spring. In particular, cereals will be planted on 360.7 thousand hectares of land, potatoes on 20.1 thousand hectares, vegetables on 18.8 thousand hectares, fodder on 141.1 thousand hectares, oilseeds on 103.7 thousand hectares, and fruit and berries on 7.9 thousand hectares of land. The Minister of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry stated that the work of bringing the arable land into farmland is being organized to ensure a stable supply of animal feed, increase the variety of crop rotations, and promote export-oriented production.
In addition, out of the total 45.4 thousand tons of wheat seed reserves in the country, 35.0 thousand tons are stored in agricultural enterprises, 3.5 thousand tons in the “Agricultural Corporation” state-owned enterprise, and 7.0 thousand tons of seeds are stored in seed breeding enterprises for commercial purposes. Seven agricultural enterprises have received permission to import 4.3 thousand tons of wheat seed. The Minister also noted that MNT 1.4 billion will be spent from the state budget to supply 360 tons of seeds in six types of fodder crops.
Minister Enkhbayar noted, "To increase crop rotation and high-protein fodder reserves for livestock, the 'Agricultural Corporation' state-owned enterprise has stockpiled 1,600 tons of seeds in nine types of fodder crops and delivered them on credit. Moreover, to protect agricultural land from erosion and improve soil fertility, MNT 9.7 billion is earmarked to install a total of 370.8 thousand reinforced concrete poles in aimags with agricultural land and MNT 1 billion to build forest strips on 102.3 km of agricultural land in four locations."