Mongolian Prime Minister Oyunerdene Luvsannamsrai has instructed the Development Bank of Mongolia (DBM) to explore potential options, including an early payment, to settle its outstanding Samurai Bond obligations. Following this, the Bank says it will be able to further manage its future obligations and improve its overall debt profile. The move will reduce Mongolia's general government debt as the sovereign guarantee on the bond will concurrently mature.

According to Mr. Manduul Nyamdeleg, CEO of DBM, the Bank is waiting on potential options to make an early payment on its first-ever Samurai bond of JPY 30 billion (US $231 million) before its maturity date of December 2023. DBM is the only policy-oriented financial institution in the country with a mandate to finance large-scale, strategically important development projects in Mongolia. DBM serves a unique role in the local economy by filling the gap created by the emerging domestic banking sector, which remains unable to finance large development projects. Since its inception in 2011, the Bank has financed energy, transportation, affordable housing, agriculture, processing factories and mining projects in the country.

Due to its policy nature and the Government backing, DBM has maintained a strong funding base with a longer tenure and lower cost compared to those of the commercial banks in Mongolia.

In 2013, the Bank issued Mongolia's first-ever Samurai bond in the amount JPY 30 billion with a 10-year maturity and coupon rate of 1.52%. The guarantee from the Government of Mongolia and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) made it possible to secure the long-term funding with a lower interest rate at the time. The proceeds from the bond have been used to finance affordable housing, processing factories, and agricultural projects in Mongolia.

Founded in 2011, Development Bank of Mongolia is wholly owned by the Government of Mongolia. Its principal objectives are ensuring sustainable economic growth in Mongolia, fostering value-added, export-driven production, and introducing financial solutions designed to implement Government development policies. As of May 10, 2022, total assets are MNT 4,196,004.38 million (US$1,351 million). Total loans and advances represent MNT 2,592,042 million (US $834.7 million), with the loan portfolio focusing on key sectors such as mining, agriculture and energy. Though the Bank was only established 11 years ago, it has successfully issued a number of notes in the international capital markets.

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As part of his working visit to Ulaanbaatar on 10 May 2022, CICA Executive Director Ambassador Kairat Sarybay held a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia Ms. Battsetseg Batmunkh and full-format consultations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia on a wide range of CICA-related issues.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia Ms. Battsetseg Batmunkh reaffirmed Mongolia's commitment to the principles and goals of CICA, as well as support for the initiatives of the Kazakh Chairmanship to transform the Conference into a full-fledged international organization, and expressed readiness to actively participate in the process. In turn, Ambassador Kairat Sarybay informed the Minister about preparations for the Sixth CICA Summit to be held on 12-13 October 2022 in Nur-Sultan. Kairat Sarybay noted the importance of the principles of multilateralism in the context of the evolving geopolitical situation in the world and emphasized the role of CICA as an effective mechanism for multilateral cooperation on the Asian continent. The head of the Secretariat paid special attention to the opportunities that CICA could provide to increase connectivity in the region with a number of landlocked developing countries. The Executive Director encouraged Mongolia to implement its potential in the priority area of environment protection coordinated by Ulaanbaatar.

During the consultations of Ambassador Kairat Sarybay in the Multilateral Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia, the parties had a thorough discussion on the ways to step up cooperation on confidence building measures under all five dimensions of CICA, as well as through the advisory bodies of the Conference: Business Council, Youth Council, Think Tank Forum and Council of Eminent Persons. Environmental Dimension Expert Dr. Ugur Turan presented the Secretariat's vision on topical issues of the environmental dimension, including the introduction of advanced green technologies. The Mongolian colleagues expressed their readiness to study the topical issues within the framework of environmental cooperation and give the necessary impetus to the development of that priority area.

During a meaningful conversation with the candidate to the CICA Council of Eminent Persons from Mongolia – Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Mongolia Ambassador Khasbazaryn Bekhbat, the sides discussed the future substantive work of the new CICA advisory body and its membership.

In order to enhance environmental cooperation, Expert in the Environmental Dimension of the CICA Secretariat Dr. Ugur Turan held a meeting at the Climate Change Department of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia. The Ministry’s specialists confirmed their interest in developing an updated concept in the priority area of environment protection and in organizing appropriate events to implement CICA confidence building measures.

During the visit, Executive Director Kairat Sarybay delivered a lecture to students of the National University of Mongolia and experts of the Mongolian association of researchers, which included the 30-year history of the development of CICA, the priorities of the Kazakh Chairmanship, as well as the activities of the Conference planned for the near future. The Executive Director emphasized the importance of interaction between the academic and research communities in the search for joint solutions to the challenges facing the CICA Member States, urging Mongolia to join the CICA Think Tank Forum.

As part of the visit, Ambassador Kairat Sarybay was also introduced to the activities of the International Think Tank for Landlocked Developing Countries, which was established by the United Nations at the initiative of Mongolia in Ulaanbaatar in 2009. The parties agreed to identify areas for future cooperation in order to meet the special needs of landlocked countries, as well as to consider the possibility of implementing joint projects.

At the close of the visit, Ambassador Kairat Sarybay was interviewed by the Montsame news agency, where he presented the activities of CICA.

The Development Bank of Mongolia (‘DBM’) to look into potential prospects, including an early payment before maturity, to pay off the outstanding bond obligations of the JPY 30 Billion Samurai Bond. The Samurai Bonds are unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by the Government of Mongolia and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) with a maturity date of December 2023.

In 2013, the Bank issued Mongolia’s first-ever Samurai bond when the Mongolian balance of payments was at stake with foreign trade deficit rising to $1.4 billion and foreign investment falling by 47 percent. But the Government of Mongolia and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) made it possible to secure long-term funding with a lower interest rate.

DBM is steeped in controversies surrounding the credibility of its financial capabilities; being the only policy-oriented financial institution in the country with a mandate to finance large-scale, strategically important development projects in Mongolia. However, despite public questioning of the credibility Mr. Manduul Nyamdeleg, CEO of the DBM, states the bank’s potential to make early payments of the Samurai bond.

Since 2011 DBM has mandated 60% of its loans to finance large-scale domestic industrial projects in Mongolia and facilitate Mongolia’s overall development, and the rest to diversify the Mongolian economy to better insulate the economy against future macroeconomic changes in the demand and price for Mongolia’s commodities exports. Over the past five years, the trade turnover for Mongolia averaged $13.2 billion. Despite the pandemic, the foreign trade turnover has been positive since 2014; the trade balance was negative $2 million in 2013 and increased to $9.25 billion in 2021.

DBM’s issuer credit ratings from Moody’s, S&P, and Fitch are B3, B, and B, respectively, corresponding to Mongolia’s long-term sovereign credit rating outlook. This reflects a vital link to ongoing Government support for the Bank’s critical policy-oriented role in the Mongolian economy. Though the Bank was established 11 years ago, it has successfully issued several notes in the international capital markets and has a healthy risk fund through its 2% origination fees.

Despite the controversy and some non-performing loans, DBM’s performance and allocation of funds to repay the Samurai Bond reflect its perseverance. If the recent turnaround of the bank is anything to go by, stricter measurements on loan processing and the correct allocation of funds enable the bank to fulfill its initial purpose. It seems DBM is set to rebound after some setbacks.

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As of today, companies and entities are using 130.5 hectares of land out of the 500 hectares of land available at Altanbulag free trade zone. While licenses are possible to be issued for 34.6 hectares, there are 188.4 hectares of land that have been reserved. Licenses were issued for most of the land between 2018 and 2019.

Although a readiness assessment is currently being carried out in the trade zone, corresponding feasibility studies have yet to be conducted. In 2003, a detailed environmental assessment was completed. And previously, general and master plans were also developed for the trade zone - yet, both of the plans were not approved at the time. Thus, the Ministry of Economy and Development and the Ministry of Construction and Urban Development are jointly developing new plans.

The Tsagaannuur free economic zone has a total area of 708.5 hectares Of the nine entities registered in the zone, four have been issued licenses for 101.3 hectares. Despite developing a general development plan and conducting a detailed environmental assessment in 2008, the documents were also not approved.

With 81 entities registered, 101.9 hectares of land are in use out of the 900 hectares available in the Zamiin-Uud free economic zone. Some documents were developed for the zone’s development in 2011. However, they are still in the final stage of receiving approval at the moment.

As for Khushig Valley free economic zone, it was decided to establish the zone with a territory of 1,000 hectares of land in Sergelen soum, Tuv aimag per the resolution issued by the State Great Khural. Infrastructure works have yet to be completed for the zone, and corresponding studies and research are being carried out.

The current state of free trade and economic zones in the country were noted as such during a presentation by Acting Head of the Border Checkpoint Development and Free Zone Policy Department at the Ministry of Economy and Development Kh.Erdenebulgan at the discussion, ‘Development Policy of Free Economic Zones’, which took place at the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry on May 12.

During the discussion, it was highlighted how there are certain common issues such as insufficient policy on workforce and human resources in the free economic zones, and the lack of corresponding agreements reached with neighboring countries. Noting the necessity to take the appropriate measures by taking these issues into account, the participants highlighted the opportunity to launch the works for Khushig Valley based on sufficient planning. Currently, there are several pressing issues being faced in successfully developing the free economic zones, such as:

• reaching a mutual agreement with the neighboring countries on establishing free economic zones, and reflecting the suggestions put forth by investors,

• ensuring the stability of policy,

• transitioning into a public-private system,

• deciding on the model of investment and governance by holding discussions with investors.

During the discussion, President of the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry O.Amartuvshin put forth a suggestion to establish a consortium of private entities in order to resolve the issues that have not been resolved by the state in the last 25 years. He also noted how the establishment of the Ministry of Economy and Development is giving a certain degree of hope to those in the private sector.

Deputy Minister of Economy and Development S.Narantsogt said, “Today, the factors limiting the development of free economic zones are different in each case. During the event, we discussed implementing corresponding works in partnership with the private sector. The past has shown how the state should not be solely in charge of the development of free economic zones.”

IFC has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry (MMHI) today to build the digital skills of people, including those in the public sector, to spur greater use and understanding of existing data for the benefit of local mining communities.

Under the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU), IFC will provide technical assistance to MMHI on open data best practices, which can meet the information needs of local communities about mining and build the digital skills of local officials, communities, civil society organizations, and others to use the available data. Information sharing is critical to the government of Mongolia’s goal of continuously building a transparent and responsible mining sector in line with the nation’s long-term development policy Vision 2050.

G.Yondon, Mongolia’s Minister for Mining and Heavy Industry, noted: “Last year, mining made up 24 percent of Mongolia’s gross domestic product (GDP), 77 percent of foreign direct investment, and 93 percent of exports. Sharing more information with local communities is essential for the industry to gain the social license to operate and prosper. Additionally, it will allow Mongolia to attract more long-term investors and rebuild the economy in a sustainable and inclusive way.”

IFC’s work is part of its global initiative called “From Disclosure to Development Program” (D2D).

Rufat Alimardanov, IFC’s Resident Representative in Mongolia, said: "Effective disclosures and data use practices are vital to help ensure that all stakeholders can share in the benefits generated from investments in the mining sector. It especially helps local communities better understand the benefits mining operations can create —jobs, and supply chain opportunities for local businesses, among others —as well as environmental and social risks that impact their lives. We are optimistic that this initiative will contribute to building trust between investors and communities, paving the way for sustainable and inclusive mining development in Mongolia”.

Since 2019, IFC’s D2D program has been promoting better disclosure and open data usage in Mongolia in partnership with the BHP Foundation. So far, the program has reached over 500 infomediaries in the private and public sectors – such as civil society, media, academia, and youth – through over 15 data capacity-building sessions and data competitions.

International Finance Corporation

The movement of herders and livestock into the eastern steppe is of great interest to researchers, but few scholars have linked the introduction of herds and horses to the rise of complex societies.

Now, a new study in the journal PLOS ONE provides interdisciplinary support for connections between livestock dairying and the rise of social complexity in the eastern steppe. Using proteomic analysis of human dental calculus from sites in the Mongolian Altai, the researchers demonstrate a shift in dairy consumption over the course of the Bronze Age.

By tracking the consumption of dairy among populations in the Altai Mountains in Mongolia, researchers revealed the critical role of domesticated sheep, goats and cattle in ancient economies. The adoption of ruminant livestock eventually led to population growth, the establishment of community cemeteries and the construction of large monuments. While these pronounced changes occurred in tandem with the earliest evidence of horse dairying in Mongolia, the consumption of horse dairy remained a relatively novel practice until later periods.

Thus, the spread of herds into the Mongolian Altai resulted in immediate changes to human diets, with a delay in subsequent social and demographic transformations, said study lead author Alicia Ventresca Miller, assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Michigan.

“As we push back the dates of the introduction of livestock, we need to rethink the pace of social change, which may occur on much longer timescales,” she said.

Ventresca Miller and colleagues from U-M and the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Germany extracted proteins from calculus samples to identify caseins and whey associated with ruminant and horse dairy. Results were interpreted in consultation with researchers from the National University of Mongolia and National Museum of Mongolia, in an effort to clarify how ancient societies changed after the adoption of domesticated livestock.

Dramatic social changes and monumental constructions were fueled by a long-term dependence on sheep, goats and cattle, Ventresca Miller says. This is supported by finds of mostly ruminant bones in large monumental Khirgisuurs in the Altai Mountains, while in other areas of Mongolia horse bone deposits have been identified along with ruminants.

“These new results might allow for a shift in our understanding of Bronze Age dynamics,” said Tsagaan Turbat, professor of archaeology and anthropology at the National University of Mongolia.

Turbat believes that Deer Stone-Khirgisuur complexes, the most studied in the region, may have originated from Sagsai groups in the Altai Mountains.

The current study pushes back the earliest date of horse dairying in the eastern steppe associated with Sagsai burials to about 1350 B.C. As initial evidence of horse milk consumption is rare, this may have been a novelty since horses were an important feature of ritual life, the researchers say.

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Materials provided by University of Michigan. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has lowered its forecast of Mongolia's gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2022 to 3.5 percent from the previous estimate of 6.0 percent in March, local media reported Wednesday.

The revised forecast reflected the impact of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the EBRD said in its May edition of the Regional Economic Prospects report on Tuesday.

The EBRD forecasted that Mongolia's economy will expand by 7.0 percent in 2023, the same growth rate as predicted in March.

Last month, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank lowered their respective forecasts of Mongolia's GDP growth in 2022 to 2.5 percent and 2.3 percent due to some external factors such as border closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The Asian country's GDP expanded 1.4 percent year-on-year in 2021, according to the National Statistics Office

A total of around five million animals have been vaccinated against the deadly foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) across Mongolia, local media reported on Thursday, citing the country's General Authority for Veterinary Services (GAVS).

FMD is a viral infectious disease that spreads among cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep and pigs.

"Almost five million cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs and reindeers have been vaccinated against FMD since Mongolia launched a month-long nationwide immunization campaign against the infectious disease on April 18," the GAVS said in a statement.

Since the beginning of this year, over 356,800 cases of FMD have been registered in 20 of the country's 21 provinces, according to the GAVS.

Mongolia has developed a 2022-2028 strategy to fight FMD and keep livestock healthy, the GAVS said, adding that under the strategy, efforts will be intensified to support the immunity of animals susceptible to FMD. In particular, high-risk animals are expected to be vaccinated against the disease every six months.

The livestock sector is a main pillar of the Mongolian economy with around 70 million heads of livestock in the country as compared with its 3.4 million people.

The landlocked country is striving to develop its livestock sector by raising meat exports in a bid to diversify its mining-dependent economy.

However, frequent outbreaks of livestock animal diseases such as FMD and mad cow disease are impeding the process.

Understanding the spatiotemporal characteristics of land use, ecosystem services, and their relationship provides a basis for the sustainable development of ecosystems. However, the effect of land use change on multiple ecosystem services has not been widely quantified, especially in transnational areas. This study analysed the spatiotemporal characteristics of land use change in the China–Mongolia–Russia Economic Corridor using the ESA-Global Land Cover product from 1992 to 2019. We used the InVEST model to evaluate the changes in carbon storage, habitat quality, water yield, and soil retention and quantified the contribution of land use to the changes in ecosystem services by calculating the ecosystem service contribution index (ESCI). The results showed that from 1992 to 2019, the urban/built-up environment and croplands increased by 22,010 km2 and 32,946 km2, respectively, which led to the continuous decline of forests. The implementation of ecological projects significantly decreased the barren environment. The value of four ecosystem services gradually decreased depending on the distance from the coastline and improved overall from 1992 to 2019. Land use conversion significantly affected ecosystem services. The expansion of croplands, urbanisation, and desertification had a significant negative impact on ecosystem services and the conversion to grasslands. Forests had a significant positive impact on ecosystem services. The findings will enrich our understanding of ecosystem services in transnational areas and help balance the relationship between ecological conservation and social-economic development in the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor.

See the full report on the link https://www.sciencedirect.com/.../abs/pii/S0959652622017814

Global mining personality and financier Robert Friedland has singled out Africa and the Arabian Shield as the venues where the world’s future-facing minerals and metals will be responsibly produced.

“This is where humanity is going to make it or break it,” he told the Investing in Africa Mining Indaba currently underway in Cape Town, South Africa.

He points out that the large copper mines in Latin America are aging and declining in grade, requiring increasing amounts of fossil-fuel-derived energy to process ever-increasing tonnages to keep up with historical production.

“They’re very low grade, and they produce a lot of global warming gas. They have a lot of work to do to make them green. It’s Africa where you have a young population where you have the possibility for introducing sustainable development,” he said during one of his usual ‘shock and awe’ bravado presentations.

According to Friedland, humanity has mined about 700 million tonnes of copper to date. The problem is the need to mine that same amount in the next 22 years to keep up with the deepening green energy transition.

“If we’re going to change and stop burning coal and stop burning oil, we can’t put Africa into poverty. We must maintain economic growth,” he said. “How do we have an energy transformation and not plunge the world into chaos?” he asked.

In terms of carbon dioxide emissions in the last 250 years, Europe generated 531 billion tonnes of carbon emissions, and the United States alone produced 416 billion tonnes of carbon emissions.

“That’s how London got built. That’s how Germany got built. That’s how New York got built; Los Angeles,” Friedland pointed out.

The relatively late bloomer China is catching up, creating 235 billion tonnes of emissions.

But in comparison, Africa has produced only about 47 billion tonnes. “Africa has produced almost no global warming, yet it has a total population larger than China’s. So, how do we get to a world without all that air pollution and with clean air while still being fair to the Africans? It’s a huge question,” he said.

The crux of the issue, in his view, is the urgent global need to reduce air pollution. According to the World Health Organization, air quality is the single most significant risk to health. Urbanization exacerbates this trend.

For this reason, the energy revolution is accelerating at an unprecedented cadence.

For example, Saudi Arabia wants to reduce their mineral imports and derive 50% of its energy from renewable energy. “When you look at renewable energy and want to reduce dependence on hydrocarbon, you need the mining industry. There’s just no escaping it,” he said.

The ‘electric-everything’ era

Friedland points out that the problem is that renewable technologies are “incredibly” energy and metals-intensive.

“We’re going to have a freakout as we try to change the world economy unless we develop a lot more mines,” said Friedland.

Solar and wind energy require between seven and 37 times more copper per unit of electrical energy produced than simply burning oil or having a nuclear power plant.

“The new giant windmills as tall as the Eiffel Tower – these are the next generation ones – they’re 12 megawatts each. That’s a lot of power per windmill. In the US, we will need 5.5 million tonnes of copper just in the next few years to put up these big General Electric windmills. Where is this copper going to come from?” he said.

Friedland continued to sketch a dire scenario where mining cannot keep up with the demands of the energy revolution.

Related: ‘Miner’s revenge’ is coming with electric cars, Friedland says

By 2030, 20 million EV charging points will need 250% more copper. By 2040 passenger EVs will require 3.7 million tonnes more copper per year. In contrast, internal combustion engine-driven vehicles need only about 1 million tonnes of incremental copper.

“We need eight new Kamoa-Kakula mines to supply the expected 9 million tonne copper supply gap by 2030,” he said.

At the world’s largest copper mine, Escondida, grades are falling. Its energy needs increased 16-fold to produce the same amount of copper. Meanwhile, social upheaval in South America against climate change and mining is ironically impeding their potential role in the emerging green economy.

Wood Mackenzie in 2021 said the world needs to invest $240 billion over the next five years to meet growing demand. “That’s a pretty big number. We put about $2.5 billion into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We’re probably halfway through our current expansion of about $5 to $6 billion of capital investment required. And this is the best development project on a planetary scale,” he said.

According to Friedland’s data, a single 1,000-pound electric vehicle battery requires 500,000 pounds of raw material. “So, to transition just the world’s passenger cars to electric, we have to mine more materials in the next 30 years that we mined throughout human history,” he said.

“Tesla expects a global battery minerals shortage. Maybe, therefore, Elon Musk was selling a few shares. He’s blaming it on a Twitter poll; remember that. But perhaps he realizes there won’t be enough metals around to satisfy these ambitious growths charts,” said Friedland.

And now Mercedes has come out with a 1,000 kilometres-range vehicle on a single charge. “Shouldn’t everybody in Africa have a car like that? Why not? But how do we get there from here? We must change the way we generate electrical energy. We have to change the way we transmit electrical energy, changing the way the whole supply chain is driven. We need orders of magnitude more responsible mining to achieve this,” said Friedland.

‘Hydrogen century’

With that, Friedland heralded the advent of the “hydrogen century” for South Africa.

He noted South Africa is home to the most significant platinum-palladium assets globally. No one has figured out how to use the most common element in the universe, hydrogen, without platinum.

“The hydrogen economy is opening soon at a theatre near you,” he said.

Friedland pointed to examples of the hydrogen economy already taking off.

Airbus is testing a hydrogen-powered engine on an Airbus 380 Jumbo. “The only thing coming out of those engines is water, water vapour. But you can’t do it without platinum metal. And the British want to convert every train to hydrogen fuel cells, eliminating all diesel engines on the trains,” he said.

According to Friedland, the hydrogen fuel cell technology entirely depends on South African platinum. “We’re not going to buy it from the Russian Tsar. He’s killing people with his cash flow. Until he stops that kind of behaviour, we will not buy his platinum. Certainly not in Europe, not in the United States and certainly not in civilized countries who think about the moral imperative of the supply chain,” he said.

Friedland is co-chairman of Ivanhoe Mines, a Canadian mining company with three main joint-venture projects in Southern Africa able to service emerging green technological sectors. It is developing several significant new, mechanized, underground mines at the Kamoa-Kakula copper discoveries in the DRC, and the Platreef palladium-rhodium-platinum-nickel-copper-gold discovery in South Africa; and the extensive redevelopment and upgrading of the historic Kipushi zinc-copper-germanium-silver mine, also in the DRC.

Kamoa-Kakula began producing copper concentrates in May 2021 and, through phased expansions, is positioned to become one of the world’s largest copper producers. Kamoa-Kakula and Kipushi will be powered by clean, renewable hydro-generated electricity and will be among the world’s lowest greenhouse gas emitters per unit of metal produced.

Ivanhoe has pledged to achieve net-zero operational greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2) at the Kamoa-Kakula copper mine when large-scale electric, hydrogen and hybrid underground mining equipment become commercially available.

Ivanhoe also is exploring for new copper discoveries on its Western Foreland exploration licences in the DRC, near the Kamoa-Kakula project, where it has been reporting even higher-grade mineralization.