In 2022, the Government of Mongolia granted the state-owned company Erdenet Mining Corporation (EMC) the right to explore mineral resources in Orkhon and Bulgan provinces. Starting from 2023, EMC began detailed exploration of the Oyut deposit.
On September 7, 2025, EMC officially announced the discovery of a new copper deposit, named Oyut, with estimated reserves of 357 million tons of ore, equivalent to a mine life of 30–35 years.
According to preliminary results, the Oyut deposit contains more than 1.1 million tons of pure copper. Its development is expected to significantly contribute to the National Wealth Fund, stimulate socio-economic growth in Erdenet city, Orkhon province, the Northern region, and Mongolia as a whole.
Key Advantages of the Project:
Located less than 10 km from the Erdenet-Ovoo deposit and about 3 km from the Industrial and Technology Park infrastructure.
Supported by EMC’s 47 years of human resource expertise.
Preliminary Exploration Results:
357 million tons of ore with an average copper grade of 0.32%.
For comparison: when the Erdenet-Ovoo deposit was first explored in 1972, its reserves were estimated at 521.7 million tons, with an expected mine life of 34 years. The newly discovered Oyut deposit has comparable capacity, with reserves that could sustain production for about 30 years.
Plans include building a new concentrator plant capable of processing 5–10 million tons of ore annually, which will help maintain EMC’s current production level while expanding capacity.
The new deposit ensures EMC’s long-term sustainability, supports national and local budgets through taxes and revenues, and reinforces the company’s social responsibility to the city of Erdenet.
With a Copper Smelting Plant, GDP Could Increase Two to Three Times
Prime Minister G. Zandanshatar stated:
In the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, copper has become a critical strategic resource, with growing demand and rising global prices. Exploration is risky—like finding a needle in a haystack—but the discovery of the Oyut deposit with 357 million tons of ore is comparable to discovering a new Erdenet-Ovoo. We are preparing to announce a tender to establish a copper smelting plant, as copper is now an essential strategic product. With the Oyuut deposit extending Erdenet’s mine life by another 55 years and containing 1.1 million tons of pure copper, reserves are expected to further increase. Establishing a copper smelting plant based on this deposit could potentially double or even triple Mongolia’s GDP and national income.
Photo by Davaa Bold

Published Date:2025-09-10