S. BOLD-ERDENE
Approximately 30 individuals who work in the geology and mining industry and own shares in related companies have been nominated for the 9th parliamentary election. The new candidates include numerous representatives from the geology and mining sectors. For example, B. Chinzorig, President of the Mongolian Mineral Processing Association, was nominated by the National Coalition (NC), while M. Ochirbat, President of the Mongolian Society of Economic Geologists, and J. Zoljargal, CEO of the Mongolian Coal Association, were nominated by the Labour Party (HUN). Fourteen of these nominees were elected and will serve in the next parliament. In previous elections, candidates from the Mongolian People's Party (MPP) and Democratic Party (DP) were nominated, but this time, various parties nominated candidates, resulting in miners being elected from four different parties and alliances. Additionally, six new members were elected to Parliament. Unlike the previous parliament, which included owners and CEOs of mining companies, the newly elected members comprise multifaceted industry experts. This includes directors of gold and fluorspar companies and individuals associated with export coal transport companies. The upcoming parliament is unique for Mongolia as it will be the first to have 126 members. This parliament is likely to bring many reforms and changes in geology and mining. Changes to the Minerals Law following the Law on Sovereign Wealth Fund, passed last April, have created challenges for the geology and mining industry. There is an expectation that the new parliament will revise these changes to some extent. Over the next four years, major new projects involving uranium, gold, and copper, which have been stalled in the mining industry, are expected to move forward. Additionally, whether Mongolia can be integrated into the supply chain of critical minerals, which are essential to the global economy, depends on the new parliament's ability to enact unprecedented changes, including creating an internationally competitive legal environment. In this regard, the 14 members representing the geology and mining industry have significant work ahead. Mining Insight magazine presents these industry representatives elected to the Parliament.
B. UYANGA. MPP. DEPUTY MINISTER OF MINING AND HEAVY INDUSTRY.
B. Uyanga, the Deputy Minister of Mining and Heavy Industry, was elected from the MPP list and became a member of Parliament for the first time. She is a secondgeneration geologist who graduated from the Mongolian University of Science and Technology (MUST) as a geologist and received her doctorate in natural sciences from Harvard University. She has served as the Deputy Head of the National Geological Survey, Chief Geologist, Head of the Geological Policy Department of the Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry (MMHI), and as an advisor to the Minister. During her tenure in the mining industry, B. Uyanga has made significant contributions to the development of Mongolia's geological exploration sector and the attraction of international investment. Notably, initial results are emerging from efforts to stimulate the exploration of critical minerals and rare earth elements and secure international investment and support. A research centre for rare earth metals is being established with a five-year grant from the Republic of Korea, and construction of the laboratory is underway. Additionally, France, through its Geological and Mining Research Office, has initiated the Li Mongolia project, investing EUR 400,000 in lithium exploration in Mongolia.
D. UURIINTUYA. MPP. HEAD OF DEPARTMENT AT ERDENET MINING CORPORATION
D. Uuriintuya was elected to Parliament as a candidate from the MPP party. Since 2017, she has served as an advisor to the CEO of Erdenet Mining Corporation (EMC). In 2019, she was appointed Deputy Director of Finance when the factory was put under a state of emergency. Following the adoption of the Law on State Savings in 2022, she assumed the roles of Head of the Office and Head of the Administration, Management, and Finance Department. She is a certified tax consultant and certified accountant. However, EMC is a focal point of issues within the mining and heavy industry sector. As a key participant in addressing major challenges such as employee wages, taxes, and industrial parks, D. Uuriintuya will undoubtedly play a crucial role in finding optimal solutions to these problems.
J. ZOLJARGAL. HUN. CEO OF MONGOLIAN COAL ASSOCIATION
The Labor Party became the third-largest party in the new parliament. J. Zoljargal, elected as a candidate from the party, is a chemical engineer. He studied in Russia and Japan and worked as an engineer and director of the Technology Research Center at Mongolyn Alt LLC (MAK). He currently serves as the CEO of the Mongolian Coal Association. J. Zoljargal is an experienced engineer involved in the planning and construction of coal beneficiation plants, having conducted numerous studies in the field of deep processing of coal. Additionally, he frequently expresses his positions on various issues, including increasing the competitiveness of the Mongolian coal industry, conducting market research, and addressing concerns within the mining industry.
R. SEDDORJ. DP. GOVERNOR OF UMNUGOVI PROVINCE
R. Seddorj, the governor of Umnugovi Province, was elected as a candidate from the DP. In 2020, he was appointed Governor of Umnugovi Province after serving as the CEO of Tavantolgoi JSC for eight years. With extensive experience managing one of Mongolia's largest coal exporting companies and working at the local management level, he is well-positioned to address many issues in the mining industry. In this election, his primary goal was to implement projects to bring surface water to Umnugovi, where the mining industry is concentrated. Additionally, he maintains a firm stance against opening new mines in Umnugovi Province.
D. BATBAYAR. DP. CEO OF MONGOL CZECH METAL LLC
D. Batbayar was elected to Parliament for the first time as a candidate from the DP. He is a prominent figure in Mongolia's fluorspar industry and serves as the CEO of Mongol Czech Metal LLC, one of the largest fluorspar companies in Mongolia. Last year, the company commissioned a factory with the capacity to produce 64,000 tonnes of fluorine concentrate. The main shareholder of Mongol Czech Metal is his father, B. Dalai. Additionally, D. Batbayar is the main shareholder of Bayanjonsh LLC, which holds exploration and exploitation licenses for fluorspar. The Public Hearing on Licenses revealed that the export of fluorspar has intensified in recent years, accompanied by various tax-related problems. As a key representative of the mining and heavy industry sector, D. Batbayar will undoubtedly play a crucial role in addressing the tax and legal challenges facing the industry.
J. BAYASGALAN. DP. CEO OF UURT GOLD LLC
He was elected to Parliament on the list of the Democratic People's Party. Although he is widely recognized as an actor, few people know about his active involvement in the mining industry. His father, N. Jadambaa, is a geologist, and he followed in his father's footsteps in the field of geology and mining. He is a shareholder and CEO of Uurt Gold and Bugant Mandal LLCs engaged in gold exploration and mining. Bugant Mandal holds three licenses for gold exploitation in Selenge Province. In 2022, the company registered its gold reserves, MV-020546 and MV-003240, with the Minerals Professional Council.
RE-ELECTED PARLIAMENT MEMBERS:
1. B. Choijilsuren. MPP. Energy Minister B. Choijilsuren has been elected to Parliament for the fourth time. He leads a group of companies operating in various fields. In the mining sector, his company, South Gobi Black Gold, holds three licenses for mineral exploration.
2. S. Byambatsogt. MPP. The Minister of Road and Transport Development, S. Byambatsogt, has been elected to Parliament for the fourth time. Altain Zam LLC, a subsidiary of Newprogress Group, where he holds a significant share, has been conducting excavation and coal mining at the Khushuut coal mine for ten years since 2014.
3. G. Damdinnyam. MPP. G. Damdinyam has been elected to Parliament for the second time. He holds a master's degree in mining governance and policy from the University of British Columbia, Canada, and owns Top Mining Solutions LLC. When he was first elected as a Member of Parliament in 2020, he held shares in contract mining and equipment supply companies such as Vertex Mining Partner and Hera Investment.
4. Kh. Gankhuyag. MPP. Kh. Gankhuyag has been elected to Parliament for the second time. He is the main shareholder of Hera Equipment and is involved in large-scale mining and equipment supply businesses. Additionally, his company Mon Ayut holds an exploration license numbered XV-012510.
5. S. Amarsaikhan. MPP. S. Amarsaikhan has been elected to Parliament for the second time. His company, Oyunii Undraa Group, holds a license for the exploitation of the Arbayan lithium deposit in Erdenetsagaan soum of Sukhbaatar province. The deposit contains lithium reserves of 250,000 tonnes, along with reserves of rubidium and tungsten. Additionally, the company holds a license for a graphite deposit totalling 618,000 tonnes in Dalanjargalan soum of Dornogovi province.
6. B. Delgersaikhan. MPP. B. Delgersaikhan has been elected to Parliament for the third time. He is the owner of the largest iron ore exporter, Boldtumur Yeruu Gol LLC. Additionally, he is spearheading major developments including the construction of an Industrial Park in Altanshiree soum, Dornogovi Province, and the Zuunbayan-Khangi railway through his companies.
7. Ch. Undram. MPP. Ch. Undram is being elected to Parliament for the second time. Although she does not officially own shares in any mining company nor hold a license, his father Ch. Chinbat is the main shareholder and CEO of Usukh Zoos LLC, one of the largest companies in the Mongolian coal industry.
8. N. Nomtoibayar. National Coalition. Shareholder of MAK LLC N. Nomtoibayar, a shareholder of MAK LLC, one of Mongolia's largest companies, is being elected to Parliament for the third time.
Mining Insight Magazine, №6 (031)
