Australia’s TMK Energy has completed the exploration drilling programme at the Gurvantes XXXV coalbed methane (CBM) project in Mongolia, it said on October 11.

The fifth and final exploration well, Snow Leopard - 05R (SL-05R), intersected a total of 69 m of coal. TMK drilled five wells in the programme with a fifth added later. This well was respudded due to technical difficulties.

Preliminary results from desorption samples indicate that all coal from a depth of greater than 200 m contains moderate to high gas contents, TMK said.

“Drilling and testing for the 2022 exploration programme is now completed and the drilling contractors have been demobilised from the site,” the company said. “The focus will now shift to the advancement of the pilot well programme and the detailed planning and logistics that are required to deliver the proof-of-concept stage of the project, which will be to produce first gas to surface.”

TMK holds a 100% interest in the Gurvantes project. Fellow Australian energy company Talon Energy is earning a 33% working interest in the project under an existing two-stage farm-out agreement.

Mongolia has announced a national campaign to plant “Billion Trees” as part of a global green revolution to combat global warming and reduce the impact of climate change. Currently, 80% of Mongolian land has been affected by desertification. In order to achieve ‘Billion Trees’ goal, Mongolia needs to plant 150 million seeds every year between 2022 and 2030.

Within the framework of the “Billion Trees” national movement, a total of 120 million trees will be planted and grown in the capital city. However, many people are transplanting trees from the forest rather than planting new seeds. There are no guarantees that a tree will survive being removed from one location and transplanted elsewhere. Furthermore tree transplanting method can destroy forest eco system.

Therefore, Ministry of Environment and Tourism banned transplanting young trees from the forest until 1 January, 2030. Anyone who cut or transplants young trees from forest will be fined.

As of 2020, Mongolia has woods in 18321 hectares of area or 11.7 percent of Mongolian land; 7.9 percent of these are forest.

Mongolian Prime Minister L.Oyun-Erdene will travel to Germany for a first official visit after becoming the Cabinet leader in January, 2021. He will pay an official visit to Germany on 12-15 October, 2022 at invitation of Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

During the visit, PM to hold official meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz and discuss bilateral cooperation.

Also, L.Oyun-Erdene is expected to visit to the Mongolian Information and Trade Promotion Center in Europe as well as give interview to the Deutsche Welle, German public, state-owned international broadcaster.

The Government of Mongolia held discussions with the relevant authorities of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China to increase the number of exports, thus, the exports are growing due to the measures that were jointly taken.

For example, 110 thousand coals were exported through Gashuunsukhait port on October 10, 2022. It is 25 tons more than the previous days’.

The National Council of Border Ports informed that a total of 911 trucks, such as 811 trucks of coal, 5 trucks of products, and 50 trucks of copper concentrate, went through Gashuunsukhait port at 5:00 pm on October 10, 2022.

As part of the ‘Revival of Ports’ of the 'New Revival Policy' implemented by the government, the country is focusing on increasing coal exports and working with the People's Republic of China.

Boeing Co. advanced after Mongolia’s national carrier operated the 737 Max jet in China, marking the first time in almost four years the model was used for commercial services to the country.

A MIAT Mongolian Airlines round-trip flight with passengers between Ulaanbaatar to Guangzhou landed in the southern Chinese city at 8:18am local time on Monday, according to FlightRadar24 data. MIAT Mongolian Airlines has the trip scheduled to fly again, using the 737 Max, on Oct. 17 and Oct. 24. Both are listed on the carrier’s website.

MIAT received all necessary permission in August to operate the Max into China, and no special permit was required for Monday’s flight, a spokesperson for the carrier said in an email. “The aircraft has undergone all of the work related to the safety bulletins issued by Boeing and authorities and is safe to operate,” the spokesperson said.

Boeing’s shares pared a gain of as much as 4.6% to trade up 1.9% to $132.19 as of 11:14 a.m. in New York. The stock is down about 34% this year.

The move is being closely watched as a potential signal the model may be closer to a return to service by Chinese carriers. Boeing officials met with China’s aviation regulator last month to review pilot training criteria for its Max jetliners, in a sign the planemaker is getting closer to securing all the necessary approvals to get the Max back up and flying in China -- the last remaining major aviation market not to permit its resumption.

“We continue to work with global regulators and our customers to safely return the 737 Max to service worldwide,” Boeing said in an e-mailed statement, declining to comment further.

China was the first to ground the Max in March 2019 and held off approving its return long after US regulators lifted a ban in late 2020 and Europe and other places followed in subsequent months. Returning the 737 Max to the skies in China and resuming deliveries are critical steps toward helping rebuild Boeing’s balance sheet, which was battered by the lengthy Max grounding and the Covid pandemic.

Chinese airlines haven’t flown the plane commercially since two fatal crashes involving the model in October 2018 and March 2019 in Indonesia and Ethiopia, respectively, that combined killed 346 people. Boeing has said it is diverting some 737 Max jes earmarked for China to other buyers.

The aircraft that operated Monday’s service to Guangzhou had been leased on a short-term basis to TunisAir this summer, and MIAT got it back last week, the spokesperson said.

By Danny Lee

— With assistance by Siddharth Vikram Philip

Chairman of the State Great Khural G.Zandanshatar and Speaker of the Senate of Canada George J. Furey today held official talks at the State House.

At the outset, the two sides reaffirmed their commitments to further expanding Mongolia-Canada friendly relations and cooperation and underscored that the relations between the two countries are developing based on the common values of democracy, human rights, and freedom.

While underscoring that Canada is an important “third neighbor” of Mongolia, Chairman G.Zandanshatar emphasized that the Speaker’s visit is of utmost importance in advancing the shared objectives of elevating the bilateral relations to “Comprehensive Partnership” and further strengthening mutual trust.

Speaker George J. Furey emphasized that he highly commends Mongolia’s experience of strengthening democratic governance that values human rights and freedom regardless of being landlocked and situated between the two powerful neighbors while expressing commitment to putting substantial efforts to intensify bilateral cooperation. He also highlighted the significance of increasing the frequency of high-level political dialogues.

In addition, they mutually affirmed the importance of all-round support from the higher legislative bodies of the two countries to ensure the implementation of the "Road Map of Mongolia-Canada Cooperation for Comprehensive Partnership" and advance the relationship to a new level.

The parties attach great importance to jointly celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and Canada in 2023, and agreed to organize mutual visits, meetings, and events aimed at expanding people-to-people links within the framework of the anniversary.

Chairman G.Zandanshatar put forth a proposal to start a major development project within the framework of the diplomatic anniversary between Mongolia and Canada. He then voiced his interest in enriching and further intensifying cooperation in the mining sector as well as developing relations and cooperation in other mutually beneficial areas. He also asked to study the possibility of reducing import customs duties on Mongolian textile goods through the establishment of a free trade agreement and expressed willingness to increase cooperation in the fields of agriculture, environment, education, communication, and information technology. He then put forth a request to pay attention to the possibility of facilitating the issue of mutual travel visas between citizens in the development of education and economic relations.

Speaker George J. Furey voiced his commitment to further enhancing cooperation in the field of education, including the implementation of student exchange programs. He also stated that the proposals put forward in the framework of cooperation between the two sides are mutually beneficial and resourceful sectors, and he said that he will work to further activate the dialogue to intensify mutually beneficial trade, economic, and development relations. He then pointed out that the leadership of the Chairman of the State Great Khural played an important role in the successful implementation of the projects to strengthen the professional and citizen-centered civil service, ensure gender equality and empower civil society in Mongolia.

The incredible momentum of the World Judo Championships continued on day three in Tashkent.

The International Judo Federation’s flagship event in the capital of Uzbekistan was a hive of activity, with locals and fans excitedly awaiting what promised to be another phenomenal day of Judo.

Silva wins again, nine years on

In the <57kg contest, Rafaela Silva, Brazil’s 2016 Olympic and 2013 World Champion, was on fire all day, despatching, Bulgaria’s Ivelina Ilieva and Israel’s Nelson Levy on the way to the final.

Here she faced Funakubo Haruka -- whose typically Japanese domination on the floor earnt her spot in the final.

But it was Silva's mastery of Uchi-mata -- one of the original Judo throws -- which won her the world title. Nine years on from her previous triumph, the raw emotion was there to see.

Kit McConnell, the International Olympic Committee Sports Director, awarded the medals.

"When I was hugging my coach," Silva said afterwards. "I actually couldn’t believe that I had become World Champion again. And she was saying to me ‘You did it, it’s real, this moment is real! You did it again."

Mongolia’s first World title since 2017

Japanese star Hashimoto Soichi looked in form for the <73kg category. The 2017 World Champion defeated Georgian legend and reigning World Champion Lasha Shavdatuashvili on the way to the final, cheered on by his family.

There he met Mongolia’s Olympic Bronze Medallist Tsogtbaatar Tsend-Ochir, a move against Canada’s Arthur Margelidon the highlight of his path to the final.

A lightning-fast counter saw Tsend-Ochir win Mongolia’s first World title since 2017. After the first edition of the Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam in June, this has been a fantastic year for Mongolian Judo.

Max-Hervé George, Ultima Group CEO, awarded the medals and the former President of Mongolia, and the President of the Mongolian Judo Association, His Excellency Battulga Kaltmaa, awarded his fellow countrymen the prize money.

"Today, I woke up to be number one," Tsend-Ochir said. "I came here today to be the World Champion and I did it."

There was phenomenal Judo on display from the local Uzbek team, and on each day the crowd has been elated to see their heroes in action. Tomorrow they have some more medal hopefuls a day not to be missed!