Melting reserves of power: Mongolia’s glaciers and the future of energy and food security www.reliefweb.int

The International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation in 2025 was a timely reminder that the stability of Mongolia’s economy rests on fragile mountain systems that are melting faster than ever recorded. The loss reverberates across the country’s energy and agricultural systems, two development pillars that draw from the same finite resource: water.
Warming and glacial retreat
Mongolia’s average surface air temperature is already 2.3°C higher than the pre-industrial baseline, about 1.3°C above the global average. The most fossil fuel-intensive climate scenario (SSP5) indicates nearly 8°C of warming by the end of the century with the steepest increases expected in the northern and western provinces; home to the country’s glaciers.
These glaciers contribute more than 70 per cent of Mongolia’s freshwater, sustaining agriculture, hydropower, and domestic use. Since 1940, glacier volume has declined by about 28 per cent, and total glacier area has decreased by 35 per cent between 1990 and 2016, leaving only 627 glaciers covering 334 km². Between the 1980s and 2010, Mongolia lost 63 lakes larger than 0.1 km² and about 683 rivers, many in the foothills of the Altai ranges with the highest concentration of glaciers. Groundwater storage on the Mongolian Plateau is also decreasing at nearly 3 mm per year, linked partly to reduced glacial input.
Analysis using downscaled IPCC climate projections available on ESCAP’s Risk and Resilience Portal suggests that this trend is likely to continue in the coming decades and by 2,100 many western Altai glaciers may disappear entirely (Figures 1A and 1B).
Water, energy and agriculture: A tightening nexus
Mongolia’s semi-arid climate has always made water a strategic asset for development.
Agriculture remains the largest water consumer, accounting for roughly two-thirds of total use. Since 2008, more than 1,000 hectares of irrigated land have been added annually, driven by food and livestock-security goals. With prolonged dry conditions (Figure 3), farmers in western and northern provinces report increasing reliance on shallow wells and groundwater pumping, while pastures dry earlier in the season.
These demands coincide with a growing push to expand hydropower for domestic energy security.
Hydropower in transition
Hydropower accounts for nearly one-fifth of Mongolia’s electricity generation, but its viability depends on stable water flow. In the western region, hydropower provides 93 per cent of locally produced energy.
The Durgun Hydropower Plant (HPP) in Khovd Province, for example, provides over 28 per cent of regional power but operates in one of the driest parts of the country. With glacier retreat and declining summer precipitation, inflows have become less predictable. ESCAP drought-exposure modelling shows that the western provinces already face chronic low-to-medium drought intensity, with worsening conditions under future scenarios (Figure 3).
When summer river levels fall, reservoir storage drops, hydropower generation declines and diesel generation must fill the gap raising both costs and emissions. Meanwhile, agricultural water withdrawals upstream further constrain available flows for power generation. The result is a feedback loop: limited water cuts hydropower output, leading to higher reliance on fossil energy, which in turn intensifies warming and glacier melt.
Competing pressures in a semi-arid economy
In the Western Energy Systems, consisting of provinces closest to the glaciers, rising demand compounds these stresses. Between 2018 and 2019, electricity consumption in the region rose 5.6 per cent, driven by population growth and mining expansion.
In summer months, when electricity demand peaks for irrigation pumping and cooling, river discharge often reaches its lowest levels. This mismatch between energy demand and hydrological supply poses a systemic risk. Climate projections show that long-term discharge in key basins will decline, reducing the economic lifespan of existing hydropower assets.
Addressing this challenge requires coordinated planning across water, energy, and agriculture. Three areas stand out:
Water-efficient agriculture. Expanding drip irrigation, adopting drought-resilient crop varieties, and improving on-farm water storage can reduce demand during low-flow periods. Aligning irrigation schedules with projected runoff cycles would ease pressure on hydropower reservoirs.
Diversified renewables. Mongolia’s wind and solar resources can complement hydropower seasonality. Integrating hybrid systems with storage or pumped hydro can maintain grid stability during drought years.
Data-driven basin management. Glacier monitoring and real-time hydrological data should inform both irrigation allocation and hydropower operation. This shared evidence-based approach can prevent conflicts between sectors during dry spells.
Mongolia already emphasizes renewable diversification. By embedding glacier and river monitoring within sector planning, the policy can better anticipate seasonal stress rather than react to it.
From vulnerability to transformative adaptation
Glacier retreat, once viewed as an environmental concern, is now an economic one. For Mongolia, without adaptation and foresight, the combined stress of reduced meltwater, erratic rainfall, and rising temperatures could destabilize both food production and energy security.
Protecting these frozen reserves and managing the water they release means securing not only the country’s rivers but its power and food systems as well.
Resilience begins where risk meets foresight.
Authors
Madhurima Sarkar-Swaisgood, Economic Affairs Officer, ESCAP
Prangya Paramita Gupta, Disaster Risk Reduction Consultant, ESCAP
Parvathy Subha, Disaster Risk Reduction Consultant, ESCAP

Mongolia Construction Industry Report 2025: Output to Grow at an AAGR of 4.3% Between 2026-2029, Supported by Investments in Transportation, Electricity, and Infrastructure - ResearchAndMarkets.com www.businesswire.com

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Mongolia Construction Market Size, Trends, and Forecasts by Sector - Commercial, Industrial, Infrastructure, Energy and Utilities, Institutional and Residential Market Analysis to 2029 (H2 2025)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
Construction industry in Mongolia to grow by 9.5% in real terms in 2025, supported by public and private sector investments in the development of energy, transport network, and residential construction projects.
According to the Mongolian National Statistics Office (NSO), construction value-add grew by 34.5% year on year (YoY) in real terms in Q2 2025, preceded by a YoY decline of 0.8% in Q1 2025 and a YoY growth of 16.8% in Q4 2024. Furthermore, rising foreign direct investment (FDI) is expected to boost construction development.
According to NSO, foreign direct investment in the construction industry rose by 7.7% YoY in Q2 2025, following YoY declines of 43.1% in Q1 2025 and 55.6% in Q4 2024, reflecting growing investor confidence in the country's energy sector and infrastructure development. In April 2025, the construction of Bagakhangai-Khushig Valley branch railway project was started.
Mongolian construction industry to record annual average growth of 4.3% between 2026 and 2029, supported by investments in transportation, electricity, and infrastructure sectors. In September 2025, the government submitted the draft Law on the State Budget of Mongolia for 2026 to the Parliament. In the draft budget, the government estimated a total expenditure of MNT32.98 trillion ($9.6 billion) for 2026, with an aim to ensure macroeconomic fiscal stability, increase citizens' income, and improve the quality and accessibility of basic social services.
The 2026 Draft State Budget includes funding for a total of 579 projects and programs through state budget investment, including 149 new projects to be implemented in 2026 and 430 continuing projects from the previous year. In the 2026 Draft Budget, the government announced plans to invest MNT3.9 trillion ($1.1 billion) in the energy sector in 2026. Furthermore, the government has set a national goal to achieve 100% enrollment in education in the draft budget.
Report Scope
Historical (2020-2024) and forecast (2025-2029) valuations of the construction industry in Mongolia, featuring details of key growth drivers.
Segmentation by sector (commercial, industrial, infrastructure, energy and utilities, institutional and residential) and by sub-sector
Analysis of the mega-project pipeline, including breakdowns by development stage across all sectors, and projected spending on projects in the existing pipeline.
Listings of major projects, in addition to details of leading contractors and consultants
Reasons to Buy
Identify and evaluate market opportunities using our standardized valuation and forecasting methodologies
Assess market growth potential at a micro-level with over 600 time-series data forecasts
Understand the latest industry and market trends
Formulate and validate business strategies using the analyst's critical and actionable insight
Assess business risks, including cost, regulatory and competitive pressures
Evaluate competitive risk and success factors
Key Topics Covered:
1 Executive Summary
2 Construction Industry: At-a-Glance
3 Latest news and developments
4 Project analytics
5 Construction Market Data
6 Risk Profile
7 Appendix
For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1f8t85
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Emerging changes in the methods and tactics of human trafficking www.gov.mn

    There has been a growing number of cases in which Mongolian citizens have been deceived to traveling to Southeast Asian countries-especially to Bavet and Poipet in Cambodia and to areas such as “KK Park” in Myanmar-where they subsequently became victims of human trafficking and were forced to work under coercion, including forсed labor and sexual exploitation.
    Organized criminal groups in Southeast Asian countries have established numerous centers to operate cybercrime activities, recruiting indivduals through deception and coercion, and subsequently forcing them to participate criminal acts. These centers are engaged in a wide range of illegal online scam activities including phishing, deepfake pornography, illegal, gambling, lotteries traudulent investment schemes, and loan-related scams.
      As a result there have been notable changes in the methods and tactics employed by perpetrators of human trafficking. For instance:
Perpetrators gain the trust of victims by providing financial assistance and subsequently subject them to labor exploitation by having them sign traudulent employment contract presented as official.
Using online platforms, establish contact with individuals provide a certain level of financial support, and gain their trust by proposing the conclusion of so-called official cooperation agreements, thereby inducing them to travel to foreign countries.
Rather than relying on previous methods-such as targeting adolescent girls with limited family supervision for sexual exploitation or sale to third parties-offenders are increasingly selecting individuals with skills in information technology and proficiency in foreign languages. Once the selected individuals are transported to the targeted locations or countries, perpetrators confiscate or withhold their personal documents, compel them to engage in cybercrime activities, and in some cases secure their compliance by promising a share of the ilicit proceeds, thereby completing the criminal act.
      Due to limited awareness among citizens regarding crimes involving coercion into iligal activities, and the widespread misconception that human trafficking only occurs when physical force is used, many individuals fail to recognize that they themselves or their close relatives have become victims. Last year, our agency in collaboration with relevant organizations carried out preventive measures among its citizens residing in countries identified as having a high risk of human trafficking.
     As a result over 50 individuals identified as being at risk of becoming victims of human trafficking were rerached through in-person and online consultations provided with guidance, and appropriate preventive measures were implemented. During this process, it was found that 68% of these individuals were promised high salaries but were not informed about any resulting debts or how to repay them 56% were provided with false information regarding working and living conditions 98% were instructed to keep details of the job offer confidential or not to disclose them to others and 59% experienced restrictions on their freedom of movement to varying degrees. Although these individuals were not completely prohibited from leaving the country their passports and personal documents were confiscated, and in some cases returned only after their legal stay had expired thereby violating the law and effectively restricting their legal stay had expired thereby violating the law and effectively restricting their freedom of movement.
    Therefore, all the citizens are advised to remain vigilant amd take precautious to protect themselves, their families and close assiociates from becoming victims of such crimes.
General intelligence agency of Mongolia

Mongolia Plans to Produce 90 Million Tons of Coal This Year www.montsame.mn

 This year, Mongolia plans to produce 90 million tons of coal, 1.9 million tons of copper concentrate, and 9.4 million tons of iron ore.
It was also reported that there are currently 1,031 valid mineral exploration licenses and 1,771 mining licenses in the country. The information was presented during a discussion on the implementation of policies and activities of the industrial and mineral resources sector for 2026.
The discussion was attended by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Development Enkhbayar Jadambaa, as well as Deputy Minister of Economy and Development Davaasuren Sodnomdarjaa. Participants exchanged views on the sector’s policies, ongoing projects and programs, and activities planned for this year.
Deputy Minister Davaasuren noted that the ratio of exploration and mining licenses is reversed, which poses risks to the sector’s development, and inquired of Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Damdinnyam Gongor about how much time and budget are to be spent to normalize the ratio.
In response, the authorities of the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources (MIMR) emphasized that increasing investment in geological exploration is essential to strengthening the sector’s long-term capacity and should be reflected in the budget framework. They noted that countries with mining-dependent economies follow international best practices by ensuring stable financing for geological exploration. Revising the methodology for calculating the mineral royalty and introducing the international practice of allocating a certain share to local communities where mining operations are taking place would contribute to local development and enhance public understanding and support.
At the end of the meeting, participants agreed to continue collaboration to improve policy coordination in the mining and industrial sectors, support economic growth, and create a favorable investment environment.
The MIMR has announced 2026 as the “Year of Policy Reform.” Within the framework of Mongolia’s 14 mega projects, six major projects are currently being implemented, including the Mongolia–France joint uranium project, coal-chemical and coke-chemical complexes, copper and steel projects, an oil refinery complex, and a gold refining plant. In addition, amendments and revised versions of the Minerals Law, the Heavy Industry Law, the Petroleum Law, and the Petroleum Products Law are planned to be submitted to the Parliament for consideration during its spring session to increase investment and improve the business environment.
The mining sector accounts for 26 percent of Mongolia’s GDP and 79 percent of total industrial output, while contributing 95.4 percent of export revenues, 74 percent of foreign direct investment, and 28.4 percent of consolidated budget revenues. Between 2015 and 2024, Mongolia attracted MNT 99.38 trillion in foreign investment, approximately 80 percent of which went to the mining sector.

Mining Sector Week Opens, Planned Legal Reforms Outlined www.montsame.mn

A “Mining Sector Week” event was launched on January 26, 2026, organized by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Development, the Mineral Resources and Petroleum Authority of Mongolia (MRPAM), and the Mining Association. The event aims to improve investment conditions in the mining sector in line with government policy, protect investors’ legitimate interests, and strengthen public–private partnerships.
Opening the week, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Damdinyam Gongor stated that the mining sector is introducing multifaceted policy reforms to shift from extraction to processing, to produce value-added products, increase exports, and boost tax revenues. He also highlighted the sector’s contribution to the national economy.
Specifically, the mining sector accounts for 26 percent of GDP, 79 percent of industrial output, 95.4 percent of export revenues, 74 percent of foreign direct investment, and 28.4 percent of consolidated budget revenues. According to the ministry, of the MNT 99.38 trillion in foreign investment attracted between 2015 and 2024, nearly 80 percent went to the mining sector.
The minister noted that preparations are underway to revise mining and industrial policies, as well as amend the Law on Minerals, in the coming years. Public consultations to gather public proposals and feedback on the draft concept of the amendments, will be held this week.
He explained that, alongside amendments to the Law on Minerals, several related laws are being prepared. Subsequently, the Law on Heavy Industry, the Law on Petroleum, and the Law on Petroleum Products will be revised. The objective is to move away from exporting raw materials toward processing minerals domestically and producing final products, thereby increasing value addition and retaining greater benefits from natural resources within the country. These legislative changes will align with the government’s broader Investment Law and Business Support Law, forming a core pillar of state policy.

13 people freeze to death in Mongolia in January www.xinhuanet.com

Mongolia has recorded 13 hypothermia deaths in January 2026, the country's National Police Agency (NPA) said on Tuesday.
Half of the victims had drunk alcohol, the NPA said in a statement.
Alcohol ingestion was the main cause of hypothermia during cold exposure, it added.
Since mid-January, a cold air mass originating in Siberia, Russia, swept across large parts of Mongolia, bringing frosts and causing temperature drops.
On Jan. 21, overnight temperatures plummeted to minus 45.2 degrees Celsius in Eruu soum, an administrative subdivision of the northern Mongolian province of Selenge, according to the country's weather monitoring agency.
Mongolia's harsh and cold winter lasts for quite a long time. Temperature can range between minus 25 degrees Celsius and minus 45 degrees Celsius.

Mongolia to host AFC Asian Cup 2029 qualifiers www.gogo.mn

The Mongolian Basketball Association announced that Mongolia has secured the right to host Group D of the 2029 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
The tournament will take place from August 24 to September 1, with Thailand, Mongolia, Vietnam, and Fiji competing. The top three teams from the group will advance to the second round.
Mongolia previously hosted the qualifiers from 2022 to 2025, according to the association.

Why Did Mongolia Join Trump’s Board of Peace? www.thediplomat.com

While the United States’ democratic allies stayed away, the Zandanshatar administration become a founding member of the new body.
Mongolia’s Prime Minister Zandanshatar Gombojav attended the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. While there, Mongolia officially joined the U.S.-initiated Board of Peace as one of the founding members. Mongolia’s swift move to join the newly forming international organization is drawing some criticism, but the government emphasizes that the membership aligns with Ulaanbaatar’s flexible, multi-pillared foreign policy, and protects its national interest.

On January 22, on the margins of Davos, the U.S. President Donald J. Trump launched the Board of Peace. The board was initially designed to oversee the U.N.-approved  20-point Gaza Peace Plan and reconstruction of Gaza; it has now turned into an early stage of an international cooperative body that aims to resolve other, as-yet-unspecified global conflicts.
Enkhzul
Afterward, the Zandanshatar administration defended its participation.

“The Board of Peace is not a military alliance but a voluntary cooperation platform based on respect for national sovereignty, fully consistent with Mongolia’s independent, peace-centered and multi-pillared foreign policy,” it said in a statement.

The Office of the Prime Minister told The Diplomat that “Mongolia’s joining to the Board of Peace also demonstrates its independent foreign policy mechanism.” 

Zandanshatar government’s official press release highlighted three key points for Mongolia’s decision to join the Board of Peace. First, it said that “Mongolia’s support for a new, flexible, and result-oriented peace mechanism will strengthen Mongolia’s international position and provide an opportunity to make its voice heard more clearly.”
Enkhzul
Second, the administration pointed to Mongolia’s long experience in international peacekeeping operations through the United Nations. The statement said that the Board of Peace “is not a military alliance, but rather based on voluntary cooperation and respect for the sovereignty of states, which is fully consistent with Mongolia’s peace-promoting, independent, and multi-pillared foreign policy.”

Finally, the the Zandanshatar administration sought to head off potential criticism about the cost, given that Trump had demanded a payment of $1 billion for permanent seats on the Board of Peace. That payment does not apply to states that are content with a temporary, three-year membership, the Mongolian government statement said. “It is not a mandatory condition… Mongolia does not have to make financial commitments to this extent and is fully able to participate as an ordinary member for a period of 3 years, on a voluntary basis, in a manner that suits its capabilities and interests.”

Ulaanbaatar might be jumping the gun. Other states are still reviewing the newly forming Board of Peace. Mongolia’s strategic partners such as Japan, South Korea, Poland, and many of its European partners are assessing the Charter and the way that the Board of Peace will operate.

From the standpoint of Mongolia-U.S. bilateral relations, Mongolia’s membership on the Board of Peace is a continuation of the strategic partnership that was established during Trump’s first term in 2019.  

“Joining this initiative at its initial stage as a founding member would provide Mongolia with a strategic advantage,” the deputy chief of Mission to the Mongolian Embassy in the United States, Battushig Zanabazar, told The Diplomat. “Since the Board represents one of the key initiatives of the Trump administration to promote peace and stability, Mongolia’s early support and participation would send a tangible positive signal to the U.S. administration.”

By Bolor Lkhaajav

Mongolian banking sector's net external assets down 0.1 pct in December 2025 www.xinhuanet.com

The Mongolian banking sector's net foreign assets fell 0.1 percent year-on-year to reach 8.7 trillion Mongolian tugriks (2.4 billion U.S. dollars) in December 2025, the country's National Statistics Office (NSO) said on Monday.
During the period, the net domestic assets of Mongolia's banks amounted to 38.4 trillion tugriks (10.77 billion dollars), which represents an increase of 11 percent year-on-year.
Meanwhile, the cumulative savings within Mongolian commercial banks demonstrated a robust performance, reaching a total volume of 26 trillion tugriks (7.29 billion dollars) by the end of December 2025.
It is noted that the Mongolian tugrik savings experienced a substantial uptick, surging by 18.3 percent, while dollar savings exhibited a more modest increase of 16 percent.
Currently, there are about 1,500 branches of 12 commercial banks operating in Mongolia.

Kazakhstan, Mongolia Reaffirm Commitment to Boost Trade to $500 Million www.astanatimes.com

Kazakhstan and Mongolia reaffirmed their commitment to increasing bilateral trade turnover to $500 million, as Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin met with Mongolian Deputy Prime Minister Khassuuri Gankhuyag on Jan. 24.
Zhumangarin described Mongolia as an important partner for Kazakhstan in the Asian region, noting that bilateral relations have consistently developed in a spirit of mutual respect and trust rooted in deep historical ties, reported the Prime Minister’s press service.
The talks focused on trade and economic cooperation as the foundation of the Kazakh-Mongolian partnership, including the shared goal of increasing bilateral trade turnover to $500 million in the medium term. The counterparts expressed confidence that this target can be achieved by expanding the range of mutual supplies, developing cooperation projects, and gradually eliminating trade and administrative barriers.
From January to November 2025, trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Mongolia reached $121.5 million, an increase of 5.5%. Kazakhstan’s exports totaled $113 million and included tobacco products, rapeseed, bread, flour, confectionery products, food products, oilseeds, as well as engines and mechanical engineering goods. Imports from Mongolia amounted to $8.6 million and consisted mainly of meat and meat products, cashmere, footwear, carpets, and wool products.
To further increase trade turnover, Kazakhstan plans to send a trade mission to Mongolia to establish direct business contacts and present its industrial and free economic zones, as well as its export potential.
The officials also highlighted the strong potential for cooperation in agriculture. Discussions covered expanding exports of Kazakhstan’s agricultural products and exploring opportunities to supply veterinary vaccines, including the possibility of localizing their production in Mongolia.
Gankhuyag, in turn, emphasized Kazakhstan’s strategic importance to Mongolia as a regional partner and expressed confidence that bilateral cooperation would intensify this year. He underscored Kazakhstan’s role as a link between Mongolia and Central Asia and voiced interest in establishing a joint working group to identify and remove non-tariff barriers. The Mongolian side also expressed interest in deepening cooperation in standardization, veterinary protection, and livestock farming.