TMK smashes Mongolian gas record as 30-year licence beckons www.theage.com.au

TMK Energy has notched up a double win at its wholly-owned Gurvantes XXXV coal seam gas project in Mongolia, smashing another monthly production record and securing regulatory acceptance of its declaration of (gas) discovery, putting it firmly on the path to a potential 30-year production licence.

The dual achievements come as the company kicks off a new drilling and well enhancement campaign designed to push the project towards commerciality. The company says average daily gas production for October jumped 11 per cent to 971 cubic metres per day (m³/day), up from 872m³/day in September.

The October record of 34,300 standard cubic feet per day came without any contribution from new wells, with field uptime remaining high despite brief power cuts and water production holding steady at 410 barrels daily.

‘The Company remains fully funded for the 2026 work program and is continuing towards its target of proving commerciality of the project.’
TMK Energy chief executive officer Dougal Ferguson
Plenty is riding on that success. Spanning 8400 square kilometres of Mongolia’s South Gobi Basin, Gurvantes XXXV boasts an independently certified 2C contingent resource of 1.2 trillion cubic feet of gas (Tcf) already discovered but not yet commercially developed. Another 5.3Tcf of prospective resources adds serious exploration upside.

A drilling rig and workover rig are now on site, giving TMK the firepower to kick its gas ambitions up another gear. And rather than splash out on a swag of new wells, the company is looking to squeeze more gas from its existing producers through a lower-cost re-completion program.

TMK Energy chief executive officer Dougal Ferguson said: “With the 2026 Work Program now underway, we expect to see further significant increases in gas production rates over the next few months as both LF-08 is brought into production and the three well re-completions are undertaken.”

Following equipment-delivery delays, the campaign kicked off in October with the cleanout of idle well LF-03, setting the stage for the first of three planned re-completions. The next step is to spud its latest well, Lucky Fox-08 (LF-08). The field campaign is scheduled to wrap up in November, with the new well slated to be producing by mid-December.

TMK also plans to temporarily shut in LF-02, its second-best producer, for a pressure build-up test during nearby drilling. While the pause could take some shine off November’s production figures, it should provide valuable data on reservoir depressurisation while protecting the well from further damage.

Looking further ahead, the company has flagged additional drilling in 2027 to test the wider resource and support development planning. If the current re-completions deliver the goods, the technique could be rolled out across the remaining Lucky Fox wells, giving TMK another cost-effective lever to lift gas flows.

Adding to the project’s credentials, the company is pushing ahead with a proposed one-megawatt gas-to-power plant at site alongside local partner Dashvaanjil Group, with engineering and costings complete. A final investment decision has shifted to the first quarter of 2027, allowing fresh production data to guide engine sizing and help avoid excess flaring. The plant could power TMK’s operations and nearby industrial customers.

The bigger prize could lie just across the border in China. Coal supplies 85 per cent of Mongolia’s primary energy. However, Gurvantes sits less than 20km from the Chinese border, putting TMK on the doorstep of one of the world’s biggest gas markets. Rising demand and a preference for local gas supplies and pipeline imports over pricier seaborne liquefied natural gas (LNG) could give it a valuable commercial edge.

On the regulatory front, TMK has 90 days to lodge and agree an appraisal program with Mongolia’s Mineral Resources and Petroleum Authority, paving the way for at least 180 days of extended production testing. The results will underpin initial gas reserves and a field development plan, bringing a 30-year exploitation licence with a possible five-year extension, another step closer.

Armed with record gas flows, a key regulatory milestone and a capital-savvy drilling program now spinning the rods, TMK is edging closer to proving it can consistently and economically extract gas from its sizeable Mongolian resource.

If the next round of wells delivers the goods, the company could be sitting on the makings of a long-term energy business with a potentially lucrative export market just a stone’s throw away.

President of Mongolia confers the Order of Chinggis Khaan on the MAS www.news.mn

On the occasion of the 864th anniversary of birth of the Great Emperor Chinggis Khaan and the Day of the Mongol Pride, President of Mongolia Ukhnaa Khurelsukh issued a decree to confer the Order of Chinggis Khaan, State Supreme Decoration of Mongolia, upon the Mongolian academy of sciences.

Over the past century, the Mongolian academy of sciences has played a leading role in preserving the continuity of the nation’s intellectual tradition and establishing a modern, multidisciplinary scientific system.

The Mongolian academy of sciences is Mongolia’s first centre of modern sciences. It came into being in 1921 when the government of newly independent Mongolia issued a resolution declaring the establishment of the Institute of Literature and Scripts, which was later upgraded into the Institute of Sciences” and the Institute of Sciences and Higher Education. In 1961, it was finally reorganized as The Mongolian Academy of Sciences, or MAS. At present there are 14 research institutes and two affiliated academies under MAS.

International cooperation plays an important role in improving science and technology, training of talents, upgrading experimental conditions, and exchanging information. As Mongolia lies at the crossroads between Europe and Asia, MAS has cooperative arrangements with scientific organizations in Europe and Asia. The Mongolian Academy of Sciences is a national member of the International Council for Science (ICSU), Association of Academies of Sciences in Asia (AASA), Science Council of Asia (SCA) and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS). At present, the Mongolian Academy of Sciences has established formal contacts with over 100 national academic and research organizations on more than 30 countries, in addition to various kinds of cooperative arrangements on mutually interested areas. In 1982, the Mongolian Academy of Sciences published the text of the Treaty of friendship and alliance between the Government of Mongolia and Tibet in the Mongolian language.

Mongolia to Build Second Air Navigation Centre in Sainshand by 2027 www.montsame.mn

Prime Minister Uchral Nyam-Osor has instructed relevant officials to accelerate construction of a new air navigation centre in Sainshand, Dornogobi aimag, following a visit to the project site.

The project, launched in July 2026, aims to establish Mongolia’s second regional air traffic control centre, a strategically important investment for the country’s civil aviation sector. The new facility is expected to strengthen aviation safety, ensure operational continuity and bring Mongolia’s air navigation infrastructure in line with international standards.

The centre will be developed on a 10-hectare site and will include not only the main control facility but also residential accommodation for employees, a kindergarten, a sports complex and landscaped green spaces. Once operational, the project is expected to create more than 200 permanent jobs in the Gobi region.

Air traffic controllers will receive professional training in stages, including at leading international institutions such as France’s National School of Civil Aviation (ENAC).

Mongolia currently operates a single regional air traffic control centre in Ulaanbaatar, which manages the country's airspace through six sectors: Altai, Murun, Central, Eastern, Gobi and Bayan. However, growing air traffic, an increasing number of sectors and the need for additional personnel have placed additional pressure on the existing facility.

Officials noted that a disruption to air traffic control operations lasting just one day could result in potential losses of up to USD 250,000. The establishment of two regional air traffic control centres is expected to improve operational resilience, enhance flight safety and help Mongolia meet the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). It is also anticipated to strengthen international confidence in the safety and reliability of Mongolia's aviation services.

Beyond aviation, the project is expected to support the development of tourism, mining and service industries, while stimulating economic growth across the region.

The new Sainshand Air Navigation Centre is scheduled to become operational in 2027.

Experts Discuss Mongolia’s Freshwater Resources www.montsame.mn

The international conference “Water Science and Engineering 2026” was held at the Government Palace to mark the 15th anniversary of the Freshwater Resources and Nature Conservation Center. It was jointly organized by the center, the Mongolian Society for Water Engineering, and the Mongolian University of Science and Technology (MUST).

Held under the theme “Mongolia’s Freshwater Resources and Environmental Sustainability,” the conference aimed to promote research, conservation, and sustainable use of the country's water resources, as well as advance science, technology, and engineering in the water sector.

At the conference, 17 selected speakers presented their research papers and findings, discussing the current state of Mongolia’s freshwater resources, aquatic ecosystem conservation, water quality and pollution, surface and groundwater research, and water resource management.

Participants also addressed pressing issues such as water supply and wastewater engineering, advanced technologies, and the impact of climate change on water resources. They presented science-based approaches and engineering solutions for assessing, protecting, restoring, and sustainably utilizing water resources.

As climate change, freshwater scarcity, water pollution, and ecosystem degradation intensify worldwide, research into the distribution, accessibility, and quality of Mongolia's water resources, as well as their protection, is becoming increasingly important.

The conference provided a platform for bringing together research findings from scientists, researchers, engineers, and other specialists, while strengthening cooperation among government agencies, scientific and educational institutions, and industry.

Country rich with livestock, but poor herders www.ubpost.mn

“Wow, herders have become wealthy. Every household now has solar panels, freezers and televisions. They can travel the internet on their expensive smartphones, and they own both trucks and passenger vehicles. Some even employ herders to help them. With meat prices this high, it is hardly surprising. Besides, I hear the government pays herders’ social insurance contributions and provides them with low-interest loans,” one man remarked.

Another person commented, “Before the democratic revolution, Soviet leaders used to urge Mongolians to increase their livestock numbers to 20 million. The government assigned people to specific regions to raise livestock and sent entire classes of eighth-grade graduates to rural areas as part of organised labour mobilization programmes. Yet livestock numbers barely increased. However, once livestock was privatized, their numbers rose sharply. People came to understand the value of private property, and today the national livestock population has reached nearly 60 million. For a country with a population of 3.5 million and 200,000 herder households, that is an enormous figure. Surely herders must have become wealthy and financially comfortable as a result. Is the fact that a kilogram of cashmere costs 100,000 MNT and a kilogram of beef exceeds 30,000 MNT not proof of that?”

As the prices of livestock products, particularly cashmere and meat, continue to rise, we tend to assume that herders’ livelihoods have improved and their incomes have increased. Meanwhile, advances in modern technology have made mobile phone and internet access increasingly widespread, even in the most remote corners of the country. With more people using social media reels to showcase the best and most attractive aspects of their lives, there appears to be a growing tendency to oversimplify the realities of herding and romanticise livestock farming, viewing the profession as far easier and more appealing than it actually is.

In reality, quality of life should be measured not only by living conditions and material possessions, but also by whether people enjoy good health and live long lives. It can also be assessed by whether their income is commensurate with the time and labour they invest, and whether their wages are sufficient to meet their living expenses. Furthermore, people should ideally have a balanced work-life routine, sufficient rest and leisure time, and the opportunity to look after their physical and mental well-being, rather than working around the clock.

If livestock farming is considered an independent economic sector, it should have certain characteristics, including a continuously replenished workforce and a balanced distribution between experienced workers and younger newcomers. However, these conditions are largely absent from the lives of Mongolian herders.

In particular, the number of people engaged in herding has been steadily declining. The proportions of both elderly and young people among herders are also decreasing. In 1995, there were 69,900 herders aged 60 and above, accounting for 17.9 percent of the total herder population. By last year, this figure had fallen to 42,400, or 13.5 percent. Similarly, in 2025, there were 76,800 people aged 15 to 34 engaged in herding in rural areas, accounting for 22.4 percent of the total. This represented a decline of approximately 6,600 over five years. In other words, the proportion of both young and elderly people among herders continues to fall, while many say that making a living from livestock farming is becoming increasingly difficult.

‘ONLY 30–40 HOUSEHOLDS ACROSS 3 BAGS’

There are many reasons why herding has become such a difficult occupation that young people are leaving the countryside and elderly herders are becoming weary of the work. One of the main reasons is that, apart from meat and cashmere, most livestock products have little to no market value. Mongolians traditionally say that everything from livestock can be put to use except its breath. Today, however, wool, hides, skins and by-products are worth almost nothing.

Even a household with 500 livestock cannot make a decent profit from selling anything other than meat and cashmere. As a result, whatever income they earn is spent on hay, animal feed, veterinary services and transportation. In other words, the number of livestock a household owns no longer determines its net profit. In some cases, maintaining a larger herd may actually result in higher expenses.

As livestock numbers increase, the carrying capacity of pastures declines. Overgrazing reduces the productivity of each animal, while lower returns per animal translate into lower average annual incomes. This has created a vicious cycle that leaves herders struggling financially and heavily burdened by debt. Statistics show that approximately 62 percent of all herders own no more than 200 livestock. This places them below the average subsistence level, leaving many barely able to keep their households afloat without falling into extreme hardship.

A herder from Altai soum of Govi-Altai Province, described the situation, “We have around 500 livestock and a family of four. In terms of livestock numbers, we are actually among the larger herding households in our bag. As the number of herders continues to decline and more people move to urban centres, our herd is considered relatively large. Nevertheless, we have no regular source of income. We only make money by selling a few sheep and one or two cattle for the winter meat supply season, and selling cashmere in the spring. Last month, we sold two cattle for a total of 4.3 million MNT. We also sold five sheep for 300,000–400,000 MNT each, bringing our total income to just over 6 million MNT. My daughter rents an apartment in the provincial centre, so I transferred 3.5 million MNT to help cover her rent and living expenses. We will spend the remainder preparing for winter and purchasing hay and animal feed.”

The herder then continued, “Meanwhile, the prices of everyday necessities, including fuel, flour, rice and sugar, have also increased. It is difficult to make ends meet unless we manage what little we earn very carefully. I have never been on a holiday or to a health resort. My wife has only travelled to Erlian once, for her graduation anniversary.”

Moreover, a herder from Duut soum of Khovd Province, said that the declining number of herders was largely due to the fact that livestock farming no longer provides a better livelihood. “People are leaving because their lives do not improve despite raising livestock. Admittedly, the gap between urban and rural areas has narrowed in recent years. Herders now have access to information much more quickly, provincial centres are connected to soums by paved roads, and people can order goods from online stores and have them delivered. There are many advantages compared with the past. Even if we do not go back too far, around 10 years ago, there were 60–70 households in each bag. Today, however, there are only 30–40 households across our three bags combined.” “Duut and Munkhkhairkhan are traditionally known as yak-raising areas. Yet there are now hardly any yaks left. Due to increasingly difficult weather conditions and harsh winters, raising yaks has become more challenging. Many households have sold their cattle and moved closer to urban centres. There are almost no young herders left. Those who remain in the countryside are mostly pensioners or people approaching retirement age. Duut is one of the few soums in the province that is not connected to the provincial centre by a paved road, despite being only 70 kilometres away. Due to the poor road conditions, travelling between the soum and the provincial centre takes two to three hours. This may also be contributing to the declining population,” said the herder from Duut soum. 

“Our region is a land of high mountains and yaks. Although the mountainous terrain means pastures are relatively sparse, the grass is nutritious and rich. Yak clotted cream is nearly three finger-widths thick, their milk is exceptionally rich, and the dried meat prepared on the mountain slopes has a distinctive, delicious flavour. Given these unique dairy and meat products, we could develop businesses around them and significantly increase herders’ incomes. However, there are no small-scale processing facilities, meat-processing workshops or dairy production units in the area. People are increasingly reluctant to remain in their homeland. At this rate, our soum and other rural areas could become depopulated within the next 10 years. Unless the government develops a comprehensive policy to support herders’ livelihoods and takes concrete measures, we will eventually run out of herders. What good is it to call ourselves a livestock-raising nation if we no longer have herders? People of my generation, those in their 60s and older, will eventually pass on. What will happen to the generations that come after us?” the herder said with frustration.

For the agricultural sector to develop, rural communities to thrive, and herders and livestock-owning households to enjoy better living conditions, urban residents also have an important role to play. The Government and authorities in the capital must pay greater attention to ensuring that Mongolia produces high-value, value-added products from its livestock raw materials.

Building processing plants, establishing logistics centres, bringing livestock, meat and other raw materials into economic circulation, and increasing their market value are responsibilities that fall to government agencies and companies based in urban centres. Specialists should advance technology and manufacturing, while herders supply raw materials to these facilities, allowing the sector to develop through a cluster-based approach.

SECTOR WHERE LOANS HAVE DELIVERED LITTLE RESULTS

If all livestock-derived raw materials commanded high prices, herders would not focus solely on raising goats for cashmere and sheep for meat. Instead, they could manage and control their livestock numbers. Keeping herd sizes at appropriate levels would reduce pasture degradation, improve livestock weight and raw material yields, and increase income generated per animal.

Therefore, a wide range of measures must be taken to improve herders’ livelihoods. First and foremost, attention should be given to improving livestock breeds and animal health. This would increase the productivity of each animal and ensure healthier herds. Second, meat, livestock, hides, skins, wool and cashmere should be fully processed domestically into finished products for export. Although the Government has been providing concessional loans and assistance for this purpose, Mongolia has yet to develop the capacity to produce goods from any of these raw materials without relying on imported inputs.

Over the past 20 years, approximately 6 trillion MNT in loans and financial assistance has been provided to the agricultural sector. Nevertheless, industrial productivity has barely improved, while the workforce has continued to decline. It would also be beneficial to establish more collection points, facilities and workshops in every province to consolidate and purchase herders’ raw materials and products, carry out primary processing, grading and storage.

There is also a need to improve the veterinary system, pay particular attention to herd health, develop veterinary services according to market principles, and introduce policies that support the training of veterinarians and other specialists. Only through the systematic and careful implementation of these measures can Mongolia become a country with large livestock herds that generate substantial income and profits, where herders’ labour is properly valued and people enjoy a good quality of life.

Furthermore, every project and programme implemented in the livestock sector must be followed through to completion, with continuity maintained across changes in government administration. Otherwise, programmes with ambitious names risk delivering little results despite the substantial funds allocated to them.

Interestingly, the United States and Brazil are among the world’s leading countries in terms of export volumes and revenues from meat, dairy products and live animals. These countries generate substantial income from beef, pork and dairy sales and have numerous wealthy farmers and agricultural companies. Brazil, in particular, earns billions of dollars annually from beef sales, and its livestock health standards are internationally recognised.

Meanwhile, countries such as the Netherlands, France and Germany have combined livestock farming with technological advances and gained international recognition for their beef, premium-quality milk and cheese. Australia and New Zealand, on the other hand, are renowned in the global market for their high-quality lamb, sheep wool and wool products. Large-scale farmers and herders in these countries are generally considered to belong to the middle- and upper-income groups and are relatively affluent.

Their farms reportedly achieve high productivity through the use of fully automated systems, smart technologies, artificial intelligence and modern equipment. International media reports also note that their governments provide regular subsidies and financial support to key agricultural sectors, helping protect farmers from market risks, fluctuations in raw material prices and droughts.

Purevdagva Elected Ulaanbaatar MPP Committee Chair www.montsame.mn

 The 36th Conference of the Ulaanbaatar City Committee of the Mongolian People's Party (MPP) was held at the Independence Palace on November 7, 2026.

In accordance with a decision by the Presidium of the Committee, the conference discussed the chair's report, the election of a new chair, and organizational and structural matters. Purevdagva Byaruuzana was elected Chair of the Ulaanbaatar City Committee with 95.3% of the vote.

A total of 489 delegates attended the conference, representing more than 78,000 MPP members in the capital.

One delegate from each of the party's 204 khoroo-level committees was elected through meetings of party members. Of the delegates, 65.1% were men and 34.9% were women. By age group, 12.2% were young people aged 18-34, 78.3% were aged 35-60, and 9.4% were senior members aged 61 and above.

The oldest delegate attending the conference was 89, while the youngest was 18.

Kakao Enterprise to Support Mongolia's Public Cloud Transition, Including Local Talent Development www.finance.biggo.com

Kakao Enterprise has launched a technology cooperation initiative aimed at supporting Mongolia's public cloud transition and data center industry development. By partnering with a local university to cultivate cloud professionals while showcasing its cloud platform's development and verification capabilities, the company appears to be seeking to expand its influence in the Central Asian market.

Kakao Enterprise announced on the 6th that it held a joint industry-academia-government cloud technology workshop at the Mongolian University of Science and Technology on the 5th (local time). The event is part of the "KOICA Platform ESG Initiative," a three-year cooperation project the company has been running with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) since 2024. It is a public-private partnership program that links corporate ESG activities with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to support economic and social development in developing countries, organized to expand cloud technology exchange between the two countries and discuss the development direction of Mongolia's cloud and data center industries.

About 80 people attended the workshop, including Mongolian government officials, IT industry representatives, and academic figures. Across eight sessions, participants shared information on public cloud migration, AI-based infrastructure development, disaster recovery (DR), and cloud industry ecosystem development plans.

In the morning session, B. DavaaPurev, Chief Technology Officer of the Mongolia National Data Center (NDC), presented the NDC's public cloud transition roadmap. Lee Seung, Manager of Kakao Enterprise's IaaS Core Development Team, then introduced AI-based cloud development technology using a single-server testbed environment.

"The cloud infrastructure involves complex layers—APIs, virtual networks, physical equipment, and more—making the development and verification process extremely demanding," Lee said. "Kakao Cloud implements a private dedicated cloud environment identical to the actual operating environment on a single server, allowing developers and AI agents to pre-verify changes before safely deploying them."

In the afternoon session, presentations and panel discussions followed on topics including disaster recovery challenges for Mongolia's private cloud, future digital infrastructure construction directions, and cloud industry ecosystem development plans. Participants jointly identified the technical requirements and operational challenges needed for the development of Mongolia's cloud industry.

This cooperation goes beyond a one-off event. Kakao Enterprise has been building an edge cloud testbed with the Mongolian University of Science and Technology and supporting the development of local cloud professionals. By establishing a foundation for hands-on practice of edge cloud technology—which processes data near where it is generated—the company has helped the local university acquire relevant expertise.

Tumurpurev Namnang, President of the Mongolian University of Science and Technology, said, "Through cooperation with Kakao Enterprise, we were able to build an edge cloud testbed and cultivate cloud professionals, laying the foundation for Mongolia's cloud ecosystem. We expect the talent developed through this cooperation to lead the growth of Mongolia's cloud industry."

Kim Tae-hyung, Head of Kakao Enterprise's Strategic Planning Office, said, "We organized this meaningful event to share the cloud technology and know-how accumulated through technical collaboration among our company, the Mongolian University of Science and Technology, and KOICA. We hope the results presented at this workshop will serve as a practical driving force for the development of Mongolia's cloud industry."

This project coincides with Mongolia's full-scale push for public sector cloud migration. As the Mongolia National Data Center has unveiled its transition roadmap, operators that present technical standards and operational know-how first in the public infrastructure construction process may gain an advantageous position in future business opportunities. For Kakao Enterprise, this offers a chance to directly demonstrate its cloud verification capabilities to government and academia while expecting the long-term effect of local talent becoming familiar with its technology ecosystem.

The trend of South Korean cloud providers expanding their cooperation scope from China and Southeast Asia to Central Asia is also becoming more pronounced. As cases increase of public-private cooperation linked to Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects being used as a bridgehead for technology exports, whether this cooperation leads to actual commercial contracts is seen as a key question. With three years of the project schedule remaining, Kakao Enterprise plans to expand its participation in building Mongolia's cloud ecosystem through follow-up cooperation tasks.

Mongolia to Launch 100,000 Homes Program in 2027–2030 www.montsame.mn

The Government of Mongolia plans to implement a national “100,000 Homes” program from 2027 to 2030 aimed at expanding housing access and providing affordable options for families.

Under the initiative, the government will build rental housing for 567 civil servants across 56 soums. The program also seeks to expand access to home loans by increasing the number of annual mortgages from 9,000 to 25,000. Beginning in 2027, the government plans to mobilize MNT 1.8 trillion in partnership with the private sector to extend mortgage coverage to an additional 16,000 households, with a specific focus on supporting energy-efficient and green housing developments.

The program aims to reduce the financial burden on citizens buying homes while increasing the overall housing supply and aligning urban planning with public needs. Priority for housing allocation will be given to residents living in the ger area of Ulaanbaatar.

To improve accessibility and fairness, the government announced plans to introduce diverse housing sales options tailored to household monthly income levels. Officials added that selections will be conducted transparently through automated smart systems to remove direct government intervention from the application process.

President Orders Probe Into Fuel Distribution Disruptions www.montsame.mn

President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa met with relevant Cabinet members and heads of law enforcement agencies to discuss the supply and distribution of petroleum products and fuel on November 6, 2026.

He said he had discussed ensuring stable supplies of petroleum products with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting and reached an agreement on the matter.

Despite domestic challenges, Russia has continued supplying petroleum products to Mongolia in accordance with the understanding reached between the two countries' presidents.

He noted that the Government was working to address the issue through contracts and agreements, while the public had also shown patience.

However, he ordered an urgent investigation into whether coordinated efforts were being made to disrupt fuel distribution for narrow political or business interests and called for continuous monitoring.

“Petroleum products and fuel must not be used as tools by certain groups to advance their political or economic interests. The State protects the freedom to conduct business, but it must not tolerate any attempt to control the market or influence prices and society through supply,” he said.

He also stressed the importance of ensuring greater transparency in supply and distribution, upholding fair competition, and reducing market dependence and concentration.

China to Help Restore Fire-Damaged Numrug Protected Area www.montsame.mn

 Batbayar Shurenchuluun, State Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, received a delegation led by Cao Li, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of China in Mongolia.

The meeting focused on the forest and steppe fires in the Numrug Strictly Protected Area in Khalkhgol soum, Dornod aimag, an important part of the Greater Khingan Range ecosystem, and ways to expand bilateral cooperation in mitigating environmental damage and restoring fire-affected areas.

In particular, the sides discussed applying China's experience and methodologies to ecosystem restoration in fire-affected areas along the shared border, conducting joint research, establishing long-term monitoring programs, and involving technical experts and researchers from both countries.

State Secretary Batbayar emphasized that involving scientists, researchers, and specialized institutions from both countries in planning and implementing restoration measures in phases would be essential to maintaining ecosystem balance and protecting biodiversity.

He also noted that the Greater Khingan Range plays a vital role in maintaining regional ecological balance and biodiversity. Therefore, damage caused by the Numrug wildfire should be assessed not merely by the size of the burned area, but through a comprehensive study of its impact on soil, vegetation, wildlife, and interconnected natural processes.

He stressed the importance of comparing the ecological conditions of burned and unaffected areas, assessing their natural recovery capacity and selecting scientifically appropriate restoration measures where necessary. He also highlighted the need for closer coordination in assessing future risks and implementing preventive measures.

The two sides expressed their commitment to strengthening Mongolia-China environmental cooperation to achieve tangible results, particularly in restoring the Numrug Strictly Protected Area's ecosystems and combating desertification.