The Renewed Feasibility Study of the Ulaanbaatar Metro Project Approved www.montsame.mn

The Scientific and Technological Council, established by the Order of the Minister of Road and Transport of Mongolia, held its meeting on February 21, 2025. At the meeting, Council members discussed and approved the Feasibility Study for the Ulaanbaatar Metro Project developed by a consortium comprising “Dohwa Engineering” LLC, “Korea Railroad” State-Owned Company, “Korea National Railway” LLC, and “Soosung Engineering” LLC. 
It is recommended that the suggestions and recommendations from the Council members be reflected in the feasibility study and detailed engineering design of the Ulaanbaatar Metro Project. 
The Ulaanbaatar Metro Project will have a 19.4 km metro line running from Tolgoit to Unity Park, including 15 stations and a maintenance depot. Once operational, the metro is expected to carry up to 17,200 people per hour in one direction during peak hours. The consortium, including “Dohwa Engineering” LLC, “Korea Railway,” “Soosung Engineering” LLC, and “Korea National Railway” LLC, has been selected as the contractor for the consultancy services for the high-capacity public transportation system project.  
The consortium has updated the 2013 feasibility study originally developed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). As part of this effort, six fundamental engineering and geological studies have been conducted. Specifically, geological drilling was performed at 42 locations along the proposed metro route in Ulaanbaatar, with samples collected every 500 meters at a depth of 30 meters.

Mongolia and CNPC Discuss Long-Term Cooperation in Petroleum Supply www.montsame.mn

Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources of Mongolia Tuvaan Tsend met with Director and President of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) Hou Qijun and Vice President of CNPC Zhang Daowei in Beijing, the People’s Republic of China, on February 21, 2025. 
At the meeting, CNPC’s Director Hou Qijun highlighted that the company, with its large oil refining capacity and annual production of more than 100 million tons of petroleum products, is fully capable of supplying products to the Mongolian market. The two sides expressed the need to establish a long-term cooperation agreement, ensure transport and logistics infrastructure, and create conditions for stable collaboration. 
The Daqing Oilfield, a subsidiary of CNPC with a history spanning over 60 years, has produced 2.5 billion tons of crude oil since its development, which accounts for 30 percent of China’s crude oil output.

SMRs highlighted for sustainable energy future www.ubpost.mn

Last week, State Secretary of the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources S.Javkhlanbaatar received Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) William D. Magwood to discuss Mongolia’s contributions to the global energy transition and its efforts to enhance sustainable energy solutions.
The meeting highlighted Mongolia’s ambitious energy goals, with S.Javkhlanbaatar outlining that mining remains the backbone of the nation’s economy, contributing over a third of the GDP and accounting for 90 percent of its exports. However, the country faces significant challenges in energy supply, with approximately 20 percent of its energy needs met through imports.
The state secretary noted that the country has set a target of increasing the share of renewable energy to more than 30 percent by 2030, with a strong focus on reducing coal consumption and transitioning to cleaner sources of power. As part of this effort, the government is prioritizing the modernization of thermal power plants, the expansion of natural gas infrastructure, and the promotion of electric and hybrid vehicles to reduce air pollution, particularly in Ulaanbaatar.
One of the key highlights of the discussion was Mongolia’s collaboration with a French company on the launch of a uranium project. This initiative marks a significant step in developing nuclear energy as a renewable energy source, aligning with Mongolia’s broader strategy to diversify its energy mix and reduce dependence on coal.
Magwood, in turn, presented the ongoing work of the IAEA and the Nuclear Energy Agency, addressing critical challenges facing the nuclear energy sector. These include high development costs, supply chain constraints and a shortage of skilled human resources. He emphasized the importance of small modular reactors (SMRs) as a potential solution for global energy needs and urged Mongolia to actively participate in international nuclear initiatives and programs to enhance human resource capacity in this field.
The two sides agreed on several action points aimed at advancing cooperation. These include sharing reports on SMRs and the mining sector, inviting Mongolian representatives to participate in international nuclear energy events, and providing detailed information on the development of public relations and implementation mechanisms for nuclear projects.

D.Bum-Ochir: Tsagaan Sar is more than a holiday, it’s a form of psychotherapy www.gogo.mn

Member of Parliament D.Bum-Ochir highlighted the deep significance of the upcoming Tsagaan Sar (Lunar New Year) festival, emphasizing its role beyond mere celebration.
"Tsagaan Sar is not just a holiday, it is a form of comprehensive psychotherapy. During this time, people are expected to avoid anger, refrain from using harsh words, reconcile with those they may have conflicts with, and focus on positivity, kindness, and purity of heart and mind," he explained.
He noted that this tradition is one of the reasons the holiday is called Tsagaan Sar (Lunar New Year), as it symbolizes purity and renewal, fostering both individual well-being and social harmony.
"Naadam is the only one in the world, and Tsagaan Sar is the only one in the world too. It is a national holiday with profound psychological and cultural significance. Comparing Tsagaan Sar to other Asian spring festivals without recognizing its distinct Mongolian identity diminishes its true value," he stated.
D.Bum-Ochir further emphasized the importance of preserving Tsagaan Sar’s unique Mongolian characteristics for future generations, ensuring its cultural and symbolic meaning endures.

Reservoir to Be Built on Selbe River for Flood Prevention www.montsame.mn

The progress of the "Selbe Revival", Selbe Sub-Center Housing Project in Ulaanbaatar city, including land acquisition, construction of a reservoir, and flood protection structures is 78.2 percent complete.
Head of the Department of Geodesy, Water Construction and Structures of Ulaanbaatar City B. Byambasaikhan reported on the project during a Consultative Meeting of the Capital City's Management Staff.
The feasibility study, geodesy, topographic mapping, engineering and geological survey, detailed environmental impact assessment, detailed design work of roads and bridges, engineering and geological surveys of bridge structures, bicycle, and pedestrian paths for the "Selbe Revival" project have been completed.
To protect against flood risks and restore the flow of the Selbe River, a reservoir with a volume of 1.3 million cubic meters will be built in the middle part of the river, in some parts of Bayanzurkh and Sukhbaatar districts, where flood water accumulates more. The reservoir will cover 21.7 hectares of area, 2.5-4 meters deep, and construction is planned to begin this April.

ISACA Ulaanbaatar Chapter opens in Mongolia www.akipress.com

New ISACA Ulaanbaatar Chapter was established in the capital city of Mongolia. It is the first ISACA department in the country.
Golomt Bank CEO Odonbaatar Amarzaya was elected President of the ISACA Ulaanbaatar Chapter. Chinguun Purevdagva was elected Vice President.
ISACA is an international provider of knowledge, certifications, communities and training in information systems auditing and security, corporate governance and information technology management, IT risk and compliance. The association was founded in 1969 and unites more than 185,000 professionals in 188 countries.

Japan to provide radar system for Mongolian air force as security aid www.english.kyodonews.net

Bahrain, Mongolia discuss strengthening cooperation www.bna.bh

The Wolf Economy Awakens: Why Mongolia is Becoming Interesting for International Companies www.montsame.mn

Chairman of the State Great Khural of Mongolia Amarbayasgalan Dashzegve to Pay Official Visit to China www.montsame.mn