Prime Minister Zandanshatar Gombojav visited the Water Agency, a government implementing agency, in observance of World Water Day.

​Last year, 682 million cubic meters of water were used nationwide. However, water pollution fees were paid for only 252 million cubic meters—roughly one-third of the total—amounting to MNT 7.5 billion. Had these fees been collected in full, more than MNT 20 billion could have been concentrated in the state budget in 2025.

​"Oyu Tolgoi" LLC, one of the top ten water consumers in the country, has not paid a single tugrug in water pollution fees over the past 15 years. According to Batbayar Zeneemyadar, Head of the Water Agency, if the company's water pollution fees for 2020–2025 were calculated based on the standards applied to the Erdenet Mining Corporation, the total would reach MNT 5.1 billion. He noted that Oyu Tolgoi LLC explains their position by stating they have no such obligation under their current contract.

​Prime Minister Zandanshatar expressed his stance that there are full legal grounds to collect water pollution fees from the company based on the UN Water Convention, Sustainable Development Goals, and existing domestic laws. He stated, "It is time to organize and uniformly enforce the international principle that 'the provider is the protector, and the polluter pays.'"

​Consequently, the Government Press Office reported that the Prime Minister has ordered the Water Agency to collect fees in accordance with the law from all water-polluting companies, not just Oyu Tolgoi.

Published Date:2026-03-23