Mongolia is a mineral-rich country boasting large copper, gold and coal deposits; however, until recently just 9.6% of its land was available for prospecting. But this is about to change, as the Mongolian Mining Minister Dashdorj Tsedev announced in early March that 20.9% of the country will soon be opened up for exploration.

This will allow Mongolia to profit from its estimated 162 billion metric tonnes of coal, an amount which puts it within the top 15 coal rich countries in the world. The coal is distributed across 1.5 million sq km relatively evenly, but it differs in quality. The biggest proven reserve lies within the South Gobi desert where 6.4 billion tons of coal is located, of which 40% is high quality coking coal making it a likely key area for further exploration.

As well as coal, more than 120,000 tons of copper are mined in Mongolia annually, which will increase as the metal becomes an ever more sought after resource. The country is ranked 12th in the world for copper researches, with 35 million tonnes (Mt) of copper located in the South Gobi desert alone.

Mongolia is seeking to shore up its economy following an International Monetary Fund (IMF) led bailout earlier this year. A stabilisation package of $5.5bn is being provided by the Asian Development Bank, World Bank and bilateral partners, including Japan and South Korea and the People’s Bank of China.

Oyu Tolgoi is one of the biggest copper-gold mines in the world, but there are several other well-established deposits in Mongolia yielding these minerals, including Centerra Gold’s Boroo mine. Alongside these are many coal mines where mostly coking coal is excavated. According to the Mongolian Government Agency for Land Minerals and Oil, coal production and exports are already up this year, and “mining increasing by 165.8% compared to the same period last year, sales by 203.56% and export performance by 48.5%”.

Currently, Mongolia generates 95% of its energy from coal, making it an essential resource. 60% of the Mongolian population lives within the capital city, Ulaanbaatar, the constant development of which requires increasing amounts of energy ensuring its coal reliance continues.

The April event was the first such deliberation on constitutional reform in Mongolia. The participants, 740 in number, were randomly selected. (Mongolians Discuss Constitutional Reform, supra.) “Deliberative polling” is a form of political consultation that consists of a random group of citizens from all walks of life coming together to discuss issues of national importance, with the goal of assisting lawmakers in their decision-making. (Id.; see also Sean Gray, Deliberative Polling, PARTICIPEDIA (Nov. 6, 2009).)

The recommendations made last month include:

maintaining the current balance of power between the legislature and the executive branches of government;
strengthening the unity of the country;
consolidating how local administration is structured;
developing a professional, independent civil service;
strengthening the judiciary to improve the legal structure; and
creating a bicameral legislature that would include the State Great Hural and the State Congress. (Mongolians Discuss Constitutional Reform, supra.)
Mongolia’s current Constitution was adopted in 1992 and was amended in 1999 and 2001. (Constitution.) It specifies that amendments can be made through a two-step process. Proposed amendments are submitted to the legislature by the Constitutional Court. If supported by at least two-thirds of the legislature, the proposed amendment is voted on in a national referendum. (Id. art. 68.)

- JOHN Grogan is to reprise his battle to wrest Keighley from Tory control.

He has been selected by Labour to contest the Parliamentary seat at the General Election, on June 8.

In 2015, he failed in his bid to unseat sitting Conservative MP Kris Hopkins, who was returned with a 3,053 majority.

But Mr Grogan said this week he was confident the polls nationally would tighten in the coming weeks and that he was looking forward to a "robust but civilised" campaign.

"I'm delighted to be standing again in Keighley," he said.

"I was asked to put forward my name in a couple of safe Labour seats, but I wanted to stand my ground and fly the party flag in Keighley and Ilkley once again.

"The constituency is 23rd on the national list of target seats for Labour and if we are to get rid of the Conservative majority in Parliament, it is crucial that it is a Labour gain on June 8."

Mr Grogan said he first campaigned for Labour in Keighley in 1979, when the late Bob Cryer stood and took the seat by just 78 votes.

And he began his latest campaign today with the constituency's last Labour MP, Ann Cryer, exactly 20 years after her election victory and the party's national success.

Mr Grogan, 56, who lives at Burley-in-Wharfedale, was MP for Selby from that same year until 2010.

"When we were in Parliament together Ann and I voted the same way on 95 per cent of votes," he said.

"As we remember that great victory in 1997 we of course are also looking forward to the coming campaign.

"I anticipate some robust discussions on policy in the next five weeks, but I'm sure the local campaign will be civilised and courteous as it was last time.

"I expect the national polls to tighten as the campaign goes on and electors begin to look beyond the Conservatives' mantra of 'strong and stable'.

"There is not much stability in Keighley's schools at the moment, for example, as they face very significant cuts in funding.

"In the coming weeks I will set out Labour's policies for Keighley and Ilkley regarding education, health, transport, Brexit and housing."

On the issue of party leader Jeremy Corbyn, Mr Grogan said neither he nor Mrs Cryer had voted for him in the leadership contest.

But he added: "I think he has made a strong start to the campaign.

"Both of us know his many qualities from our time working together on the backbenches on issues such as Iraq."