Mongolia presses Rio Tinto to rewrite ‘unfair’ terms of $18bn Oyu Tolgoi mine www.ft.com

Talks over copper project would be latest renegotiation as global sector grapples with wave of resource nationalism

Mongolia is seeking to renegotiate the “unfair” commercial terms of Rio Tinto’s giant $18bn Oyu Tolgoi copper mine, as rising prices for the metal and a recent electoral shift contribute to a growing political impetus to change the terms of the 17-year-old deal.

Top Mongolian officials including Prime Minister Gombojavyn Zandanshatar, who took office last summer, are meeting this week in Ulan Bator with Rio executives including head of copper Katie Jackson to discuss the terms of the Oyu Tolgoi agreement.

The prime minister warned Rio executives in a meeting on Monday that the current deal was “unfair” and that “this whole situation feels like the Mongolian people and the parliament are being deceived”, according to video footage seen by the FT.

A rising tide of resource nationalism has led several of the world’s biggest mining projects to be renegotiated as governments seek more favourable terms.

Freeport-McMoRan last month received a permit extension for its Grasberg copper mine in Indonesia following years of talks under a deal in which the government will increase its stake in the project.

Under the terms of the original Oyu Tolgoi agreement struck in 2009, the government of Mongolia owns 34 per cent of the copper and gold mine, held through state-owned mining company Erdenes Mongol Group.

To fund its share of the capital expenditure needed to develop the mine, the government took out a multibillion-dollar loan from Rio Tinto at a floating interest rate that is currently more than 11 per cent. Repeated cost overruns and delays at the project have extended the timeline for when the government will start to receive dividends from 2017 to around 2037.

Among the government’s key demands are for Rio to reduce the interest rate on the loan and cut the annual management fee it charges for the project, according to Davaadalai Batsuuri, chief executive of Erdenes Mongol Group, who has been participating in the negotiations.

“Mongolia is not getting the dividends from the project, and it is not fair. That is the underlying point,” he told the FT.

The Mongolian proposal would reduce the interest rate on the loan to less than 6 per cent, on par with the interest rate for Mongolia’s other sovereign lending, and phase out Rio’s management fee, which Davaadalai estimates to be roughly $150mn-$200mn a year.

Davaadalai warned that if the negotiations with Rio go poorly the government could increase the rate of export tax the company pays on copper exports — currently around 5 per cent.

Oyu Tolgoi is Rio’s biggest copper mine under development and will be the world’s fourth largest by 2030, producing about 500,000 tonnes of the metal a year.

“We are engaged in active negotiations with the Mongolian government,” Rio said in a statement. “These discussions reflect our continued commitment to working together to achieve Oyu Tolgoi’s full potential for the benefit of all partners.”

The mine is currently producing copper from its open pit while building out its underground operations. Rio Tinto has been forced to redesign its underground expansion after failing to strike a licensing agreement with Entrée Resources, which holds the mining licence for a neighbouring area despite years of discussions.

Rio has asked for the government’s help to secure an agreement with Entrée, whose licence covers part of the underground area that was originally proposed. The government last year established a temporary oversight committee to examine the issue.

Separately, Rio Tinto is facing a tax probe in Mongolia, where authorities allege it has underpaid about $450mn largely because of accounting differences related to depreciation during the 2021 and 2022 tax years. The tax dispute is working its way through the courts. 

Four years ago, Rio agreed to waive about $2.4bn of the government’s loan as both sides vowed to “reset” the relationship.

However, that truce has not held and the prime minister has made the renegotiation a top priority.

Upcoming elections next year, along with near-record prices for copper and gold, have also raised the stakes.

“The public are going to ask what the government has done. If there is no visible outcome, there will be some protests,” said Davaadalai.

China highlights major gas pipeline work with Russia to boost energy supply amid Iran tensions www.msn.com

China is signaling a major push to secure more natural gas from Russia, raising curiosity and attention in global energy markets. The country’s draft five-year plan has included references to two key pipelines that transport Russian natural gas, potentially putting the long-discussed Power of Siberia 2 pipeline back into the spotlight. This move comes amid ongoing tensions in West Asia, where conflicts have created uncertainty in energy supplies.

China’s New Five-Year Plan Highlights Gas Pipeline Work
China recently released the draft version of its development blueprint for 2026 to 2030 during the annual session of its top legislature. Among the various infrastructure and energy projects, the plan specifically mentions advancing preparatory work on two major pipelines. One of these is widely believed to refer to the Power of Siberia 2 project.

Power of Siberia 2 is designed to bring natural gas from Russia to China through Mongolia. If completed, it would stretch around 2,600 kilometers (1,615 miles) and could deliver up to 50 billion cubic meters of gas per year. Analysts say this pipeline could significantly strengthen China’s energy security at a time when international conflicts, including a war in Iran, are causing energy price volatility worldwide.

Trump downplays rising gas prices as US-Iran conflict disrupts oil markets globally

Despite this inclusion in the five-year plan, experts caution that work on the pipeline is far from immediate. Russia and China still need to resolve issues regarding ownership stakes, construction costs, and the price of gas that will flow through the pipeline. Both countries will need to settle these details before they can begin full-scale construction.

Strategic Cooperation with Mongolia
The pipeline is not just a bilateral project between Russia and China; Mongolia also plays a key role. Earlier this year, Mongolia’s government held talks with Chinese energy officials, during which both sides agreed to intensify cooperation on a Russian gas pipeline passing through Mongolian territory.

This comes after a legally binding memorandum signed in September during trilateral talks in Beijing. The agreement outlined the construction of two pipelines: Power of Siberia 2 to China and the Soyuz Vostok transit gas pipeline through Mongolia. While exact financial details remain unclear, discussions suggest that Russia and China may share both the costs and benefits of the Mongolian section of the pipeline.

Russia’s Iskander missile production rises threefold, fueled by growing industrial ties with China

Previously, Russia’s Gazprom had a near-monopoly over the Mongolian segment. Current discussions indicate that China may now become more involved in the construction and financing of this section. This development is seen as a sign that momentum is building toward a final agreement among the three countries.

Pipeline Importance Amid Global Energy Challenges
The Power of Siberia 2 pipeline project has been under discussion for nearly two decades, with multiple delays since talks began in 2006. Its estimated cost is around $13.6 billion. Once operational, it would provide China with a substantial and reliable supply of natural gas.

Global energy markets are currently experiencing significant disruptions due to geopolitical tensions in West Asia, including the ongoing war in Iran. These events have put additional pressure on countries to secure alternative sources of energy. For China, expanding gas imports from Russia could help offset shortages and stabilize domestic energy supply.

The pipeline would not only serve China’s growing energy needs but also reduce its reliance on volatile energy regions. Analysts note that while the draft five-year plan is a strong indicator of intent, actual construction will take years and require careful coordination between Russian, Chinese, and Mongolian authorities.

Poland steps in against Russia’s energy war, boosting gas flows to keep Ukraine running

While China has not set an official timeline, including the project in the national development plan signals that the country is prioritizing it. Observers say that once China and Russia finalize financial and technical agreements, they could begin preparatory work, marking a significant step in their energy cooperation.

The project offers benefits beyond energy security. By involving Chinese companies in construction and engineering, China could gain experience and strengthen its influence in large-scale international energy projects. The initiative highlights the strategic nature of energy diplomacy in the region and shows how countries tie infrastructure investments closely to geopolitical considerations.

The post China highlights major gas pipeline work with Russia to boost energy supply amid Iran tensions appeared first on Deftechtimes.

Mongolia's #1 rockers The Hu return to the UK and Europe

Innovative Mongolian rock trailblazers The HU have announced a headline UK and European tour for September and October 2026, with SKÁLD as special guests. The band will also join Iron Maiden at Knebworth Park on July 11 for the “Run For Your Lives” tour stop, alongside The Darkness, Airbourne, and The Almighty.

The band will bring their distinctive sound and commanding live show to iconic stages across the UK and Europe. Kicking off in Edinburgh in September, the tour’s UK leg will see them play Bristol, Bournemouth, Newcastle, Belfast, Dublin (IE), Birmingham, London, Manchester and Norwich, before continuing on to mainland Europe in cities like Berlin, Paris, Brussels, Warsaw, Zurich and more. The 23-date will span nine countries.

Speaking about their excitement for the upcoming shows, The HU said,  “What is up, our UK and Europe fans? It has been a while since we came to you. Our new setlist is full of hope and energy and as per The Hu fashion, we will have a brand new performance with fiery attitude. Come to our long-awaited shows and let’s have some fun together!“

UK & European Tour Dates:

Spotify Presale – Thursday, 5th March 2026 – 10:00 AM Local

General On Sale – Friday, 6th March 2026 – 10:00 AM Local

Before their UK and European headline run, The HU will co-headline a North American tour with Apocalyptica from May 12 to June 7. They’ll also join Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson on the “Freaks On Parade” U.S. tour with Orgy, kicking off August 20 in West Palm Beach, FL. Tickets are on sale now at The HU‘s website HERE.

The HU continue to push rock’s boundaries with their latest single, “The Real You”, released earlier this year via Better Noise Music. The track blends Western rock elements with a heavy, atmospheric sound, driving rhythms, and gritty, menacing vocals, taking their signature Hunnu Rock, which fuses traditional Mongolian instruments and throat singing with modern rock to breathtaking new heights.

“The Real You” is available on all digital outlets HERE and the video can be seen HERE.

Following the release of “The Real You”, The HU have also teased further releases for March 2026.

ABOUT THE HU

The HU have passionately and unforgettably brought Mongolian music to the music frontlines. In November 2022, The HU became the first-ever rock/metal band to receive the prestigious UNESCO “Artist for Peace” Designation at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris, France by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.

Previous recipients include Celine Dion, Shirley Bassey, Sarah Brightman, Herbie Hancock, Marcus Miller, and World Orchestra For Peace. With over 961 million all-time streams, 483 million video views, #1 charting albums, multiple sold-out headlining tours, prestigious government honors and awards, collaborations with several of rock’s biggest names, and featured music on video games including EA Games‘ Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, THE HU have cemented their status as a global powerhouse.

Mongolia, Finland to Strengthen Cooperation in Education Sector www.montsame.mn

Education Minister Naranbayar Purevsuren visited Finland from June 4 to 6 and participated in the 15th meeting of the Mongolia–Finland Intergovernmental Commission. During the visit, he also held an official meeting with Finland’s Minister of Education and Culture, Anders Adlercreutz.

During the meeting, the sides highlighted the active development of cooperation in the education sector between Mongolia and Finland, exchanging views on expanding collaboration, increasing Finnish investment in education, and implementing joint projects and programs, as reported by the Ministry of Education.

To strengthen partnerships between universities in the two countries, we held an online meeting for the first time in 2025. The meeting was attended by representatives from the National University of Mongolia, Mongolian National University of Education, Mongolian University of Science and Technology, Mongolian University of Life Sciences, as well as the University of Oulu, Aalto University, University of Eastern Finland, and the University of Helsinki. The ministers discussed opportunities for cooperation and agreed to organize these activities regularly to support collaboration between universities.

The sides also expressed their intention to deepen cooperation by strengthening Mongolia’s teacher training system, implementing joint research and academic projects, and launching exchange programs for teachers, education researchers, and students.

Minister Adlercreutz expressed support for enrolling Mongolian students at Finnish universities starting from the 2026–2027 academic year under the President’s Scholar-2100 Program, which provides opportunities for Mongolian youth to study at leading universities worldwide.

With funding from Finland’s Ministry of Education and Culture, researchers from the University of Turku have conducted comprehensive research on bullying among school students and developed a systematic approach based on the findings. The resulting KiVa Anti-Bullying Program is currently being implemented successfully in over 20 countries worldwide.

Minister Naranbayar invited the team that developed the KiVa program to Mongolia to conduct a comprehensive assessment of conditions in general education schools, develop a joint program, and pilot its implementation in schools. The sides agreed to cooperate on the initiative.

Special Flight to Repatriate Mongolian Citizens from Middle East www.montsame.mn

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia announced that a special flight will be operated to repatriate Mongolian citizens currently staying in the Middle East.

According to a decision by the Government of Mongolia, MIAT Mongolian Airlines plans to operate an Ulaanbaatar-Dubai-Ulaanbaatar flight on March 10, 2026, specifically arranged for Mongolian citizens residing in Middle East countries.

Citizens can get information about purchasing tickets and other flight-related information through the following contacts:

Phone: +976-11-333999
Email: cc@miat.com
Facebook chat: MIAT Mongolian Airlines
For citizens abroad (Viber): +976-94001476

TMK smashes out new Mongolian gas record www.thewest.com.au

TMK Energy has smashed out another new gas production record with a significant increase to its previous best daily tally at the company’s Pilot Well project, part of its Gurvantes XXXV coal seam gas project in southern Mongolia.

Remarkably, the best producing well at the project – LF07 – has really turned on the afterburners, with a near 400 per cent boost to production numbers in the past few months and a nine-fold increase since August last year.

The company set a new daily gas record of more than 900 cubic gas metres, or more than 31,800 standard cubic feet per day (scfd), in recent days.

The rapid increase in gas production has firmly placed its previous best daily output of 25,000 scfd well and truly in the shade. Gas numbers, predominantly from LF-07, have been ramping up strongly week by week, with production in the first week of March averaging 873 cubic gas metres per day.

Recent production at Pilot Well has delivered a massive 50 per cent uplift over February’s daily gas rate, underscoring the project’s enormous potential as more water is continually pumped out of wells deeper in the structure. Water production remains steady at about 500 barrels per day.

The significant increase in gas numbers is primarily due to the performance of LF-07, the most recent well drilled, which sits up-dip in the subsurface structure.

TMK plans to drill additional wells identical to LF-07 to further ratchet up gas output in the short term, with new locations already identified.

Our cautious optimism has turned to high levels of excitement in recent weeks as we continue to see this week-by-week acceleration of gas production rates. Our expectation is for the gas rates to continue to materially increase from the Pilot Well project over the coming months as LF-07 and other wells reach critical desorption pressure and gas begins to be liberated from the coals at ever increasing rates.

TMK Energy chief executive officer Dougal Ferguson
Ferguson said the company is on the cusp of a major milestone with its plans to produce the first-ever commercial coal seam gas in Mongolia.

Average gas production in February of 583 cubic gas metres per day was down slightly on January’s number of 593 cubic gas metres, resulting from pressure build-up tests conducted at LF-01 and LF-04, with both wells shut in for 14 days and 7 days, respectively.

The pressure testing provides management with vital additional data on the reservoir pressure reduction rate – known as desorption – a key indicator of the project’s future success.

TMK believes the desorption pressure is moving closer to the level required to increase gas volumes significantly, with the huge surge in recent gas production confirming that its theory appears to be playing out.

Reservoir modelling last year outlined a clear path to achieving that perfect pressure and the continued water production of near-500 barrels per day is assisting in depressurising the reservoir towards desorption, lowering the reservoir pressure and assisting the gas to desorb from the coal seams.

Management believes the increased gas flow rates can support discussions with potential gas or power off-takers for its first gas-fired generator project. This includes the possibility of reviving a binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed with German power plant manufacturer Jens Energie 12 months ago.

The MOU would see TMK agree to supply gas from its Gurvantes XXXV project initially at a rate of 5000 cubic metres, with Jens to convert that gas into electricity for the local market using a German-imported gas-fired power plant to be installed under the arrangement.

The company is confidently looking beyond simply proving the wells can produce gas, as it plans to link the pilot wells and use its gas to generate on-site power, with any surplus to be potentially sold into the local grid as an early revenue stream.

Pilot Well spans 60 square kilometres in the Nariin Sukhait area of Mongolia’s vast countryside and has a contingent resource (2C) of 1214 billion cubic feet (BCF) of natural gas, making up Mongolia’s biggest gas resource. The project currently contains a prospective resource of 5300BCF across its total 8400-square-kilometre ground.

Mongolia is keen to transition into cleaner energy production, moving away from older-style forms of energy such as coal and instead accessing sources such as coal seam gas, which burns cleaner than other fossil fuels.

The sharemarket welcomed the news of the company’s surge in gas production, bumping up its price to a peak of 16.5 cents today for a solid 26.9 per cent gain during the day. A continued run of ever-increasing daily gas records might see the market keep an even closer watch on TMK.

Mongolian e-commerce platform Navch solves the market trust problem with guaranteed payment and seeks seed round financing www. eu.36kr.com www.

In Mongolia, the process of purchasing a desired product online often resembles an adventure filled with uncertainties. Consumers have to painstakingly "hunt for goods" in the vast sea of information on social media and rely on unprotected personal transfers to complete transactions. This common predicament is precisely the reason why entrepreneur Otgonjargal Delgermurun founded the two - sided e - commerce platform Navch.

[Lack of payment trust: the biggest obstacle to Mongolia's e - commerce development]
The Mongolian e - commerce market is currently in its early stage. Offline retail dominates absolutely, and online transactions are highly fragmented. According to Statista data, the country's e - commerce market is expected to reach $521 million by 2025. However, most transactions are conducted on personal pages of social platforms such as Facebook, which suffer from three major pain points: high payment risks, low efficiency in product discovery, and difficulty in acquiring traffic. Although there are vertical e - commerce platforms like Shoppy.mn in the local market, their model of targeting high - end brands with high entry thresholds can hardly meet the mass consumption needs. The market urgently needs a platform that can provide a safe and trustworthy trading environment for both buyers and sellers.

[Building a self - developed escrow payment system to connect the "trust" infrastructure of banks]
The Navch project was officially launched in April 2025, starting with the construction of trust infrastructure. The team first overcame the most core technical barrier in Mongolian e - commerce - successfully connecting with the payment systems of all major banks in the country and independently developing an escrow transaction engine. This breakthrough means that the money paid by buyers will be temporarily held by the platform and will only be settled to sellers after the buyers confirm the receipt of goods, completely changing the traditional high - risk "pay first, ship later" model in the Mongolian market.

Based on this trust foundation, Navch has built a two - sided e - commerce platform, connecting sellers on one end and buyers on the other. It solves the problem of information fragmentation through a unified product information database. Its business model adopts a pure transaction commission system of 7% that is only charged after a successful transaction, which is deeply bound to the interests of merchants and greatly lowers the entry threshold.

[Verifying the supply - side demand at low cost, with a positive response from the merchant side]
With almost no marketing budget, the team demonstrated high - efficiency execution. Through precise social media operations and extremely low - cost advertising (spending only $100 on advertising to obtain more than 200 accurate merchant leads), Navch successfully attracted more than 200 real merchants to submit applications for entry. More than 40% of them are from provinces outside Ulaanbaatar, verifying the nationwide market demand. Meanwhile, the merchant - side application was downloaded more than 100 times, and the social media naturally accumulated more than 1,000 followers within one month, running through the growth model of the supply side at the minimum cost.

[The lean team focuses on urban - rural digitalization and seeks funds to launch the buyer side]
The Navch team consists of two core members. The founder, Otgonjargal Delgermurun, is an ethnic Chinese in Mongolia with a background in computer science from the Netherlands. Familiar with the mature e - commerce models in Central Europe, he is responsible for the overall strategy and the local market. The technical partner, Mohammed, holds dual computer degrees from Dubai and India and is in charge of full - stack development and bank payment connection. The team adopts an extremely lean model, with the founder receiving zero salary and the technical partner's income linked to the platform's transaction volume, ensuring that every cent of funds is used for business growth.

At the current stage, the platform has completed the cold start of the supply side. The biggest challenge lies in launching the growth engine on the buyer side. The team is seeking a $20,000 seed - round investment, planning to use the funds mainly in three aspects within nine months: 40% for launching market promotion on the buyer side, 30% for upgrading the web - version technology to lower the user conversion threshold, and 30% for improving the merchant operation and training system. The goal is to rapidly increase the number of active buyers on the platform by amplifying the proven low - cost customer - acquisition model, activate the merchant ecosystem waiting to enter, and achieve a positive cycle of the two - sided network.

In the long run, the team's strategy is to make Navch the "urban - rural two - way e - commerce" infrastructure connecting Ulaanbaatar and the provincial markets, ultimately filling the key gap in Mongolia's digital business ecosystem.

OP-ED: International Women’s Day: Eight Actions for A More Equal World www.montsame.mn

Greenhouse sector struggling to develop www.ubpost.mn

We are unable to produce the vegetables we consume on our own and continue to rely on “our neighbors” (imports), causing time and money to keep flowing out of the country. The bitter truth is that although Mongolia harvested a total of 11,661 tonnes of produce, it remains labeled not as a producer and cultivator nation, but as an importer and consumer country. In fact, with our vast and fertile land, there should be no obstacle to developing production, crop farming, and agriculture. Yet, progress has been limited.

Over the past three years, the total area of summer and winter greenhouses utilized domestically has been only four to 10 hectares, and harvested yields have increased by merely 1,000 to 2,000 tonnes. Meanwhile, imports of vegetables, fruits, and berries have steadily risen. Between 2023 and 2025 alone, Mongolia purchased more than 16,700 tonnes of tomatoes and cucumbers, spending 4.4 million USD, according to the report of the Customs General Administration. If leafy greens, specialty vegetables, mushrooms, and fruits are included, the total figure would be considerably higher. We sought clarification from relevant authorities on how to address this issue, reduce dependence on imported vegetables, and promote the construction of four-season greenhouses.

According to the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry, more than 7,700 enterprises and individuals nationwide are currently engaged in protected cultivation, or greenhouse farming. Last year, cultivation was carried out on 119.4 hectares of summer greenhouses and 40.3 hectares of winter greenhouses, yielding 14,500 tonnes of produce. This includes cucumbers, tomatoes, and all other crops suitable for greenhouse cultivation. Each year, the share and variety of vegetables, fruits, and berries in domestic food consumption continue to grow. However, domestic production remains insufficient, and output has not increased significantly. Various factors contribute to this situation.

One major challenge is the high cost of constructing winter greenhouses. Building a 1,000-square-meter winter greenhouse requires no less than 1 billion MNT. Representatives of the “Altan Tsatsral” cooperative, which has been operating for 25 years in Baruun-Urt soum of Sukhbaatar Province, explained: “Greenhouse farming as a comprehensive sector is barely developing in Mongolia. Our cooperative operates 1,200 square meters of summer greenhouses where we grow cucumbers, tomatoes, and strawberries, and we cultivate potatoes and vegetables on 12 hectares of open field. We do not have a winter greenhouse because the construction cost is high and the technology is complex.” 

The representatives then continued, “We estimate that building a 1,000-square-meter winter greenhouse requires 1 billion to 1.2 billion MNT. Moreover, it takes four to five years to begin recovering the investment in greenhouse farming, while concessional loans are usually issued for only three years. Even obtaining a short-term loan requires substantial collateral. Due to these issues, household and small- to medium-sized producers are unable to develop winter greenhouse operations. Neighboring provinces also lack winter greenhouses. We meet our demand for vegetables and fruits from Ulaanbaatar and from border cities in China.”

Meanwhile, a household farmer from Bayanzurkh District Ch.Munkhbat said “We have a 50-square-meter greenhouse insulated at the base and covered with double layers, which we use all year-round. We harvest crops in all four seasons, growing cucumbers, tomatoes, and lettuce. From November to March, vegetable prices are high and demand is strong. During this period, we harvest 1.5 to 2.5 tonnes of each product and earn 30 to 35 million MNT in revenue. However, we pay 1.5 to 1.7 million MNT per month for electricity. After deducting electricity and other expenses, we make a profit of 20 to 25 million MNT over five months.” 

It was further highlighted, “In summer, electricity consumption is lower, but vegetable prices fall, resulting in smaller profits. I hope policies will be implemented to support domestic farmers and protect the market, such as setting quotas or restrictions on imported vegetables during the summer. This would help stabilize greenhouse operations. Currently, price fluctuations between winter and summer are significant. Nevertheless, because we grow environmentally friendly produce, we have steady customers. Many restaurants, in particular, receive lettuce deliveries twice a week. In my opinion, every household in ger districts could install a 10 to 40 square meter greenhouse in their yard to meet their own needs and sell surplus products. Even after deducting all expenses, they would still make a profit. This would also help reduce dependence on imports.”

ONLY 90–100 DAYS TO PLANT AND HARVEST VEGETABLES

This was stated by Kh.Altantsatsral, head of the “Munkh Nogoon Amidral” NGO. For more than 10 years, the organization has been engaged in crop farming and greenhouse operations. It runs a 4,200-square-meter winter greenhouse in the 13th khoroo of Khan-Uul District, in the Shuvuun Fabrique area. The NGO also provides consulting services for household and greenhouse farming and operates a “Labor Camp” program, where participants receive five to seven days of practical training while staying on-site.

Kh.Altantsatsral explained, “Our country has a cold climate and harsh weather conditions, which make crop farming difficult. Day and night temperatures fluctuate by around 20 degrees, and we only have 90 to 100 days to plant and harvest vegetables. Therefore, state policy and support are essential for developing crop farming and greenhouse agriculture. The government should provide long-term loans and support every household in growing vegetables in their yards and summer plots. Loans need to be issued for at least 10 years to produce meaningful results. With shorter-term loans, farmers may fail to make a profit and eventually go bankrupt. Many citizens are interested in joining the ‘Labor Camp’ and starting their own agricultural businesses. However, due to limited capital, insufficient experience, and weak development and cultivation practices, they are unable to apply what they have learned. If we could reduce the volume of imported vegetables and fruits and grow them ourselves, the health indicators of Mongolians would also improve. There is much more to say.”

Meanwhile, Ts.Naranchimeg, a resident of Chingeltei District, shared her experience by saying “Operating a winter greenhouse is truly difficult. Since we could not afford to build a glass greenhouse, we constructed one using layered plastic sheeting. In 2022, we hired professionals and invested a significant amount of money to build a 30-square-meter greenhouse. However, after just two years, the greenhouse covering tore apart and the supporting beams bent. It consumed a lot of electricity, yet it still did not heat properly in winter, and the vegetables froze and failed to grow. Perhaps the technology was flawed from the start, but we effectively lost over 30 million MNT.” 

“When building a greenhouse, it is crucial to work with a highly competent team and, if possible, seek advice from specialists from our southern neighbor. I inquired with our district’s Food and Agriculture Office about obtaining a loan to revive and expand our household production, but without success. People continue importing vegetables because they lack the capital and technical expertise to construct proper greenhouses. Unless it is a large-scale glass greenhouse with hydroponic technology, operating a winter greenhouse in a country with such cold weather, unreliable electricity supply, and high costs is extremely challenging,” said Ts.Naranchimeg. 

We also inquired how the sector ministry is supporting greenhouse farming. In 2025, the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Fund granted 1.3 billion MNT in concessional loans to nine greenhouse projects that were selected for funding. Additionally, under a project implemented by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), two advanced-technology greenhouses, each covering 1,000 square meters, were commissioned in Tuv and Darkhan-Uul provinces. Furthermore, under the government’s resolution on providing electricity discounts to winter greenhouse operations, 79 enterprises and individuals received a total of 325 million MNT in electricity subsidies last year.

To implement the “Atar-IV” campaign, a financing agreement was signed with a commercial bank to provide working capital loans to crop producers based on bank funding sources. As a result, 5 billion MNT in loans is planned for greenhouse and mushroom producers in 2026–2027, according to the Department for Coordination of Crop Production Policy Implementation of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry.

FLOWER IMPORTS INCREASING

In addition to vegetables, fruits, and berries, ornamental and potted flowers are also cultivated in greenhouses. Demand for such flowers continues to grow steadily. In January 2026 alone, 970,000 live flowers were imported, which is three times higher than the figure recorded three years ago. Over the past five years, annual spending on flower imports has increased by one to 1.5 million USD each year. Most imported flowers come from China, Russia, and South Korea. In Mongolia, roses, tulips, carnations, and lilies lead in sales.

Regarding flower demand and supply, G.Amarmend, a resident of Songinokhairkhan District, said, “We cultivate ornamental and potted flowers in our two 50-square-meter winter greenhouses. We have contracts with shops to supply roses and carnations. Although we face challenges such as labor shortages and difficulties in organizing deliveries and protecting flowers from the cold, we operate with reasonable profitability. Even if households do not grow vegetables in their yards, cultivating flowers could become a ‘lovely business’. We are focusing on increasing the variety of ornamental flowers grown in Mongolia and becoming a stable supplier. Since there are relatively few individuals and enterprises engaged in flower cultivation and sales, it is fair to say this is a new and profitable business. Our goal is to expand our greenhouse facilities, improve technology, and increase flower production.”

Overall, these examples show that by developing greenhouse farming, expanding winter greenhouse capacity, and diversifying products, Mongolia could reduce import dependence, increase household and business incomes, and create jobs. Although the government provides support within its means, that support and financing often fail to reach a broad audience, and loan amounts and durations remain insufficient for businesses to scale up. Additionally, measures such as setting quotas or limiting imports during the summer and autumn seasons to protect domestic producers and stabilize their market operations could also be implemented.

Bank of Mongolia Purchases 396.1 kg of Gold in February www.montsame.mn

 The Bank of Mongolia purchased 396.1 kilograms of gold in February 2026, bringing the total amount of precious metals purchased since the beginning of the year to 2.3 tonnes.

Of this amount, the Bank of Mongolia’s branch in Darkhan-Uul aimag purchased 89.0 kilograms, while its branch in Bayankhongor aimag purchased 477.3 kilograms of precious metals. Compared to the same period last year, this represents a 19.7 percent increase.

The Bank of Mongolia determines its precious metal purchase prices based on global market prices.

In February 2026, the average gold purchase price was MNT 576,654.17 per gram.