A climate fund founded by Bill Gates is investing in technology that uses surges of electricity to shatter rocks and mineral ores in a bid to reduce energy usage and carbon emissions at mines.

A European fund tied to Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures invested €12 million ($12.3 million) in the I-ROX pulsed-power venture with Robert Friedland’s I-Pulse Inc.

The technology is based on short, high-intensity bursts of power to streamline crushing and grinding processes that today make up the most energy-intensive and expensive part of mining.

That would help producers of metals like copper and nickel achieve carbon-reduction targets, thereby boosting industry efforts to gain acceptance for expansions to meet growing demand in the transition away from fossil fuels.

(By James Attwood)

President of Mongolia U. Khurelsukh will pay a state visit to the People’s Republic of China on November 27-28 at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

The Mongolian president will meet with his Chinese counterpart for official talks over the course of his two-day visit, during which they will also exchange views on matters pertaining to bilateral ties and cooperation.

Moreover, the heads of state of the two nations will issue a joint statement regarding the development of the Mongolia-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and sign cooperation agreements.

TMK Energy has completed the acquisition of 2D seismic across discovered coal deposits in the northern and southern regions of its Gurvantes XXXV coal seam gas project in Mongolia.

The two 10km 2D seismic lines will help with the mapping of coal seams exposed at shallow depth within highly prospective areas outside the 1.2Tcf best estimate Contingent Resource defined by the successful 2022 exploration drill program.

Design, engineering work and tendering for TMK Energy’s (ASX:TMK) key pilot well program is also nearing completion.

“Following the outstanding results achieved to date and the delivery of an initial 1.2TCF in contingent resources from the 2022 exploration drilling program, we are already planning for the 2023 exploration program with the completion of this small but targeted seismic acquisition,” chief executive officer Brendan Stat said.

“This new seismic data will help us refine our future drilling locations targeting the already significant prospective resources already independently assessed by NSAI.

“Our immediate focus is the finalisation of the engineering, design and tendering for the pilot well program which we expect to commence in early 2023 and is designed to demonstrate our proof of concept by flowing gas to surface at commercial rates.

“The 2023 exploration drilling program, to be completed in parallel with the initial pilot well program, aims to continue to demonstrate the vast potential and scale of the Gurvantes XXV Project.”

Seismic acquisition

The seismic lines are aimed at defining future exploration locations to further de-risk the broader undiscovered 2U Prospective Resource of 5.96Tcf.

The first 10km 2D seismic line was acquired across the Noyon Syncline field in the north of the Gurvantes XXXV Project area, where coal units have been mapped on both the north and south limbs of a broad syncline striking east-west for over 80km.

The second 10km 2D seismic line was acquired in the Khukhuzokh field targeting coal units exposed at surface, which is interpreted to be an extension of coal units from the Nariin Sukhiat field that was the focus of this year’s successful drilling program.

Pilot well program

TMK’s planned pilot well program will consist of three production wells drilled in close proximity to the Snow Leopard-02 (SL-02) well, which returned spectacular results.

Subject to partner Talon Energy exercising its option to proceed to Stage 2 of its farm-in agreement, the pilot program will be primarily funded by Talon.

Drilling is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2023.

Copper is one of the most commonly used and important metals in the world. According to Data Bridge Market Research, the global copper market size was around $304.79 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach $453.756 billion in 2029 at a CAGR of 5.1%. China is the world’s largest consumer of refined copper in the world. It consumed 52% of the global copper volume in 2021.

Covid-19 Impact

Like most industries, copper was also significantly affected by the pandemic. Compared to 2019, copper mining experienced a 2.9% decline in 2020, due to labor shortages, supply constraints, and mine closures. However, due to high demand paired with supply constraints, the copper market boomed in 2021 and crossed $10,000 per metric tonne in May 2021. The metal reached its peak at the end of March 2022, to $10230.89, and dropped substantially to $7651 at the end of October. The decline in prices came due to weaker demand from China since April 2022.

In 2021, $88.6 billion worth of copper was exported from 25 countries across the globe, representing a 52.1% increase on a YoY basis. Chile was the leader with $26.7 billion worth of exports, representing approximately 30% of all the exported copper ore.

Growth Catalyst

Copper has always had a high demand for electronics due to its malleability and high conductivity. Moreover, the demand for copper is expected to increase as the world moves towards renewable energy sources and the electrification of vehicles. According to International Energy Agency, the global copper demand could double by 2040.

Top Copper-Producing Companies

The Chilean government-owned company Codelco was the world’s largest copper-producing company with 1.78 million metric tonnes of copper produced in 2021. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX) came in second to the Chilean company after producing 1.21 million metric tonnes. BHP Group Limited (NYSE:BHP), Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE), Teck Resources Limited (NYSE:TECK), and Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM) are some of the other notable names in the copper mining industry.

Top 15 Copper Producing Countries in The World

In this article, we selected the 15 countries that produced the most amount of copper in 2021. We arranged them in ascending order of their production in 2021. Furthermore, we also mentioned the copper reserves and the future outlook of copper production in these countries.

15. Mongolia

Production in 2021: 263,990 metric tonnes

Mongolia is home to Oyu Tolgoi, one of the largest gold and copper deposits in the world. Furthermore, according to Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO), it is one of the safest and most sustainable projects in the world. It produced around 163,000 metric tonnes of copper in 2021 and is expected to operate till 2052. In addition, the project has still not reached its full capacity yet, which is due in 2028. After that, the Oyu Tolgoi mine is set to become one of the world’s largest copper and gold-producing mines.

In 2021, Mongolia exported approximately $3 billion worth of copper, accounting for 3.4% of global copper exports. Mongolia is the key copper exporter to China and exported 335,000 metric tonnes of copper to the country in the first quarter of 2022. With the current advancements in the Mongolian mining industry, the country is on its way to becoming the fifth-largest copper producer by 2030.

14. Poland

Production in 2021: 391300 metric tonnes

Poland is the world’s leading country in electrolyte copper production. The country exported $5.97 billion worth of copper in 2021, making it one of the leading copper exporters in the world. Moreover, the country has around 36 million tonnes of copper reserves. Rudna mine is the country's largest mine. It produces copper and silver ores and is owned by KGHM Polska Miedź S.A.

On November 11, KGHM Polska Miedź S.A reported that the Polish metallurgical production of copper was 442.5 kilotonnes, while the mined production was 334.4 kilotonnes in the three quarters of 2022.

13. Brazil

Production in 2021: 403,300 metric tonnes

Mining is one of the major contributors to the Brazilian economy and is substantially responsible for the country’s positive balance of trade. In 2021, the company exported $980.81 million worth of copper. The mining giant Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE) is a Brazil-based company that owns the largest and most significant mines in the country.

The Salobo Mine in Para was the largest copper-producing mine in the country in 2021, producing 191,700 metric tonnes of copper. The mine is owned by Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE), which is one of the biggest mining companies in the world. The Sossego Mine was able to produce around 86,000 metric tonnes of copper in 2021, making it the second-largest mine in the country. It is also owned by Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE).

12. Kazakhstan

Production in 2021: 520,000 metric tonnes

Kazakhstan produced 520,000 metric tonnes of copper in 2021. Aktogay Project in East Kazakhstan produced 136,400 tonnes of copper in the year making it the largest copper-producing mine in the country. It is owned by the British company KAZ Minerals plc. The mine is expected to exhaust by 2045. Furthermore, KAZ Minerals plc also owns Kazakhstan’s Orlovsky mine, Irtyshsky mine, and Artemyevsky mine.

According to Fitch Solutions, Kazakhstan is expected to produce 776,100 tonnes of copper in 2022, 803,270 tonnes in 2023, and 830,580 tonnes in 2024. The increasing copper production is owed to KAZ Minerals’ recent expansion plans and the new mining project, the Koksay copper mine, which the company recently started with China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group.

11. Canada

Production in 2021: 590,000 metric tonnes

The Highland Valley Copper Mine produces the most amount of copper in Canada, with 130,500 metric tonnes produced in 2021. The surface mine is located in British Columbia and will be able to continue its operations till 2040. Other than British Columbia, the provinces where copper is produced are Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba, and Quebec.

In 2021, Canadian copper exports were $4.1 billion with US$10,314 per exported ton. Canadian miners are to potentially enter into agreements with the U.S. military to fund key mineral projects, especially in the Ring of Fire area which contains reserves of copper, among other minerals.

10. Zambia

Production in 2021: 726,379 metric tonnes

Copper is the backbone of the Zambian economy and accounts for 75% of Zambia’s total export earnings. Zambia produced a record high of 800,192.27 metric tonnes of copper in 2020, which declined by 4.5% to 726,379.19 metric tonnes in 2021. The Zambian Mopani Copper Mines produce the majority of the country’s copper and are the most significant copper deposit in Africa, producing approximately 88,000 metric tonnes of copper in 2021. Lumwana mine is another important mine in Zambia and is owned by Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:GOLD).

In 2021, Zambia exported $8.44 billion worth of copper in 2021. According to the UK investment firm SP Angel, the new Zambian president Hakainde Hichilema is focusing on increasing investments in the country and wants to triple the country’s copper output over the next decade.

9. Mexico

Production in 2021: 734100 metric tonnes

In 2021, Mexico produced 734.1 kilometric tonnes of copper. The nation has almost 53 million metric tonnes of reserves. Buenavista del Cobre Mine in Sonora is Mexico’s largest mine, producing 327.3 kilotonnes of copper in 2021. The mine is owned by Grupo México, S.A.B. de C.V. (OTC:GMBXF). Mexico exported $3.42 billion worth of copper ores and concentrates in 2021.

According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography, Mexico’s copper production declined by 1.4% in July 2022, compared to the same period last year. The decline was faced by the country’s mining industry as a whole due to mine closures, operation delays, and lower ore grades. It is estimated that the total decline in copper production is expected to reach 4% by the end of the year.

8. Indonesia

Production in 2021: 810,000 metric tonnes

Indonesia is one of the world’s top copper-producing countries and it produced 810,000 MT of copper in 2021. The mine that produces the most copper is Grasberg Block Cave Mine, located in Papua, which produced 295.5 thousand tonnes of copper and an estimated 26.4 million metric tonnes per annum (mmtpa) of Run-of-Mine (ROM) in the year 2021. The mine, estimated to run out of the commodity by 2041, is owned by PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium.

As per the remarks of the Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, the country may ban the export of copper in 2023 to improve the resource processing industry. Indonesia, being one of the top copper-producing countries, exported 2,235,454 tonnes of copper ore worth $5.4 billion in 2021.

7. Australia

Production in 2021: 817,700 metric tonnes

Australia has the second largest copper reserves in the world, second only to Chile at 93 million metric tonnes. In 2021, Australia produced 817,700 metric tonnes of copper, compared to 879,500 metric tonnes in 2020.

Copper exports account for about 10% of Australia’s revenue. In 2021, 50% of the exports by Australia were made to China, followed by Japan and South Korea. Furthermore, copper exports are expected to grow to 977 kilotonnes by 2023-2024, compared to 2021-2022’s forecast of 807 kilotonnes.

Olympic Dam copper-uranium-gold deposit has one of the largest copper deposits in Australia. It is owned by BHP Group Limited (NYSE:BHP). In FY2022, the mine produced 138.4 kilotonnes of copper, down from 205 kilotonnes in FY2021. Prominent Hill in South Australia and Girilambone in New South Wales are also some of Australia’s significant copper deposits.

6. Russia

Production in 2021: 820,000 metric tonnes

Russia produced 820 kilo metric tonnes of copper in 2021. Russian copper production reached a peak of 883 kilometric tonnes in 2012 and fell to 705 metric kilotonnes in 2017. The country has around 62 million metric tonnes of deposits.

Udokan deposits are Russia's largest and the world’s third-largest deposits with over 26 million metric tonnes of copper reserves. The industrial mining on the deposit started in August 2022. The deposit is owned by the Russian company, Udokan Copper. It expects to start exports from the project in 2023, with China as its biggest buyer.

Russian shipments of gas and oil to China grew significantly over January-October of this year compared to the same period in 2021, China’s General Administration of Customs reported on Sunday.

According to its data, liquefied natural gas (LNG) deliveries jumped by 32% in annual terms, to 4.98 million tons. In dollar terms, the increase was 157% and exceeded $5.3 billion. Russia is currently China’s fourth-largest LNG supplier after Australia, Qatar, and Malaysia. While data shows that China’s imports of the fuel from Qatar also grew over the first ten months of the year, shipments from both Australia and Malaysia have been dropping.

While the customs agency does not currently list the physical volume of China’s pipeline gas imports, its data shows that the value of pipeline gas flows from Russia in January-October 2022 soared by 182% compared to the same period in 2021, to $3.1 billion. This makes Russia the second largest supplier of pipeline gas to the Asian nation after Turkmenistan ($8.23 billion).

China’s oil imports from Russia also surged over this period, rising by about 9.5% to 71.97 million tons. Deliveries were up 53% to $49.19 billion in dollar terms. As follows from the published data, in both October and September Russia was China’s second largest oil supplier. Saudi Arabia remains the leader, having sold 73.76 million tons of the fuel to China for $55.5 billion over January-October.

China has been boosting energy imports from Russia, having taken advantage of discounts Moscow offered earlier this year in an attempt to secure buyers for Russian oil and gas. This came as many traditional importers began shunning supplies from the country amid Ukraine-related Western sanctions.

85 people contracted COVID-19 infection in Mongolia in past 24 hours.

43 of them are contacts in Ulaanbaatar, and 42 are recorded in the regions. No imported cases were found.

1 patient died from coronavirus in a day, bringing the total number of deaths to 2,134.

The designing of the Soyuz Vostok gas pipeline to China via Mongolia should be completed next year, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Victoria Abramchenko told journalists following a meeting of an intergovernmental commission with Mongolia, Interfax reported.

“The completion [of the designing] is scheduled for next year. We are supposed to ensure clearance by the three states,” Abramchenko said.

Gazprom started to assess the possibility for supplying up to 50 billion cubic meters of gas per year to China via Mongolia in 2020. Design and surveying as part of the Soyuz Vostok trunk pipeline project began in February 2022. The pipeline is to go through Mongolian territory and will be a continuation of the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline.

Mongolia is coming to Iowa, USA next month with a World Cup roster that includes six World finalists. The Men’s and Women’s Freestyle World Cup will be held at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa, 10-11 December. It is the first time that men’s freestyle and women’s freestyle will be held together side-by-side at the World Cup.

Mongolia, which placed fourth at the 2022 World Championships in women’s freestyle, will be joined in the World Cup by World champion Japan, second place United States, third place China and fifth place Ukraine, in addition to the All World Team.

The Mongolian women’s freestyle team includes 2014 World champion and two-time World finalist Tserenchimed Sukhee, 2022 World silver medalist Otgonjargal Dolgorjav and Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Bolortuya Bat Ochir, while the men’s team is led by 2022 heavyweight World silver medalist Lkhagvagerel Munkhtur. Munkhtur reached the World finals in September by knocking off three-time World champ Geno Petriasvhili of Georgia in the 125-kilogram semifinals.

On the 20-athlete Mongolia women’s wrestling roster, 10 of the athletes boast a medal at an age-group World Championships.

Men’s Freestyle

57 kg — Zanabazar Zandanbud

57 kg — Nasanbuyan Narmandakh

61 kg — Narankhuu Narmandakh

61 kg — Munkh Erdene Altansuvd

65 kg — Tsogbadrakh Tseveensuren

65 kg — Tulga Tumur Ochir

70 kg — Temuulen Enkhtuya

70 kg — Khanburged Gankhuyag

74 kg — Suldkhuu Olonbayar

74 kg — Sumiyabazar Zandanbud

79 kg — Dulguun Altanzul

79 kg — Batzul Damjin

86 kg — Bat Erdene Byambasuren

86 kg — Tsogtgerel Munkhbaatar

92 kg — Gankhuyag Ganbaatar

92 kg — Byambadorj Bat Erdene

97 kg — Orgilokh Dagvadorj

97 kg — Batzul Ulziisaikhan

125 kg — Lkhagvagerel Munkhtur

125 kg — Batmagnai Enkhtuvshin

Women’s Freestyle

50 kg — Otgonjargal Dolgorjav

50 kg — Namuuntsetseg Tsogt Ochir

53 kg — Bolortuya Bat Ochir

53 kg — Khulan Batkhuyag

55 kg — Otgonjargal Ganbaatar

55 kg — Sumiya Erdenchimeg

57 kg — Davaachimeg Erkhembayar

57 kg — Erdenesuvd Bat Erdene

59 kg — Khongorzul Boldsaikhan

59 kg — Bolortuya Khurelkhuu

62 kg — Tserenchimed Sukhee

62 kg — Bolortungalag Zorigt

65 kg — Purevsuren Ulziisaikhan

65 kg — Shoovdor Baatarjav

68 kg — Delgermaa Enkhsaikhan

68 kg — Urtnasan Gan Ochir

72 kg — Davaanasan Enkh Amar

72 kg — Sarnai Bayarbaatar

76 kg — Ariunjargal Ganbat

76 kg — Zagardulam Naigalsuren

The ‘Law of Mongolia on the legal status of Human Rights Defenders’, has been in the making for over two years, with participation from civil society, human rights organisations (including ISHR, Front Line Defenders and Forum Asia), the National Human Rights Institution and UN experts.

The original draft was approved by a committee in the Mongolian State Great Khural in December 2020 and was later sent to a parliamentary working group for review. The resulting version passed and was celebrated as the first law specifically destined for the protection of human rights defenders adopted in Asia.

However, despite major objections from civil society and defenders, some broad provisions that could easily be used to restrict the rights of defenders were included in the version adopted.

Article 8.1.3 prohibits defamation of the ‘honour or reputation of others’. This broad provision could be misused to silence or criminalise defenders, as has occurred with other national laws, by claiming that any act of denunciation breaches this prohibition. This presents a particular risk for defenders working on human rights violations associated with the extractive industry.

Similarly, article 7.2.1 restricts funding from organisations or persons carrying out activities that are deemed ‘terrorist, extremist, or that harm national unity’. These generic terms could be used to impede human rights defenders from obtaining resources.

‘We are incredibly concerned by the restrictive provisions remaining in the law, despite clear calls from national civil society and defenders in the lead up to its passage. Beyond this, the Mongolian Government received calls from the former and current UN Special Rapporteurs on human rights defenders to strengthen the legislation when it was in draft form and ensure its alignment with international human rights law; calls which were echoed – including by national civil society – in Mongolia’s 2021 UPR review. It is deeply regrettable that Mongolia’s achievement in being the first country in the region to pass a law on human rights defenders is tarnished by these articles’, said ISHR’s Tess McEvoy.

Others, including FORUM-ASIA along with some national partners, have also expressed concern for the problematic clauses in this law, indicating that they may render the law ineffective and counterproductive.

Human rights defenders play a fundamental role in upholding the rule of law. That they exercise their work in consistently dangerous conditions is a testament to their courage. ‘A law for the protection of human rights defenders should serve to recognise their important work and ensure their protection, not as another element that puts them in danger. The initial versions of the law developed in consultation with civil society had the potential to achieve the former, but the current version is more in line with the latter’, said Sukhgerel Dugersuren, Executive Director of OT Watch Mongolia.

It is imperative that this law is amended to remove all restrictive provisions, so that it can effectively protect defenders in compliance with international human rights standards.