1 MONGOLIA AND UK CONDUCT JOINT STUDY ON CYBERSECURITY RISKS WWW.MONTSAME.MN PUBLISHED:2025/11/02      2 RUSSIA, MONGOLIA TO UPGRADE ROAD & RAIL CORRIDORS AND INCREASE FREIGHT TRANSIT WWW.RUSSIASPIVOTTOASIA.COM PUBLISHED:2025/11/02      3 MONGOLIA UPGRADED TO 'BB-' ON SUSTAINED FISCAL CONSOLIDATION AND STRONG GROWTH; OUTLOOK STABLE WWW.SPGLOBAL.COM PUBLISHED:2025/10/31      4 GOVERNMENT OF MONGOLIA LAUNCHES NEGOTIATIONS WITH RIO TINTO WWW.MONTSAME.MN PUBLISHED:2025/10/31      5 MONGOLIA COURT UPHOLDS GOVERNMENT’S TERMINATION OF QSC CONCESSION, CITING “PUBLIC INTEREST” WWW.EGUUR.MN PUBLISHED:2025/10/31      6 EBRD FINANCES CONSTRUCTION OF CARDIOVASCULAR HOSPITAL IN MONGOLIA WWW.EBRD.COM PUBLISHED:2025/10/31      7 ADB TO SUPPORT MONGOLIA’S LARGEST SOLAR AND BATTERY STORAGE PROJECT FOR ENERGY SECURITY WWW.ADB.ORG PUBLISHED:2025/10/31      8 HUNNU CITY POWER INFRASTRUCTURE NEARS COMPLETION WWW.MONTSAME.MN PUBLISHED:2025/10/31      9 MONGOLIA COMMISSIONS 53 NEW FACTORIES AS PART OF ‘FOOD REVOLUTION’ PLAN WWW.MONTSAME.MN PUBLISHED:2025/10/31      10 DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER S.AMARSAIKHAN DISMISSED FOR VIOLATING ACCOUNTABILITY AGREEMENT WWW.GOGO.MN PUBLISHED:2025/10/29      ДЭЛХИЙН БАНКНЫ САНХҮҮЖИЛТЭЭР 102 КМ ДАЛАН СУВАГ ӨРГӨТГӨНӨ WWW.EAGLE.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/11/02     “ОЮУ ТОЛГОЙ” КОМПАНИЙН ГҮЙЦЭТГЭХ ЗАХИРАЛ ДЭЙРДРЭ ЛИНГЕНФЭЛДЕРИЙН МОНГОЛ УЛСЫН УУЛ УУРХАЙН САЛБАРТ ОРУУЛСАН ХУВЬ НЭМРИЙГ ҮНЭЛЭН “НАЙРАМДАЛ МЕДАЛЬ”-ААР ШАГНАЛАА WWW.ITOIM.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/11/02     ЧИНГЭЛТЭЙ ДҮҮРГИЙН 300 АЙЛ НОГООН ХАЛААЛТЫН СИСТЕМД ХОЛБОГДОЖ ЭХЭЛЛЭЭ WWW.ITOIM.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/11/02     102 АППЛИКЭЙШНЭЭР ЗӨРЧИЛ МЭДЭЭЛСЭН ИРГЭНД ТОРГУУЛИЙН 10-20 ХУВИЙГ ОЛГОНО WWW.EGUUR.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/11/02     ЭРЧИМ ХҮЧНИЙ ШӨНИЙН ТАРИФЫН ХӨНГӨЛӨЛТ ӨНӨӨДРӨӨС ХЭРЭГЖИЖ ЭХЭЛЛЭЭ WWW.NEWS.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/11/02     S&P АГЕНТЛАГ ЗАСГИЙН ГАЗРЫН ТӨСВИЙН БОДЛОГЫГ ЭЕРГЭЭР ҮНЭЛЖ, ТОГТВОРТОЙ ҮРГЭЛЖЛҮҮЛЭХ НЬ ЗҮЙТЭЙ ГЭВ WWW.ITOIM.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/10/31     ОЮУ ТОЛГОЙ ТӨСЛИЙН ХУВЬ НИЙЛҮҮЛЭГЧДИЙН ЗЭЭЛИЙН ХҮҮГ ХЭЛЭЛЦЭХ ЭЭЛЖИТ 7 ЖИЛИЙН ХУГАЦААГ ҮЛ ХАРГАЛЗАН ХЭЛЭЛЦЭЭРИЙГ ҮРГЭЛЖЛҮҮЛЭХЭЭР БОЛЛОО WWW.NEWS.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/10/31     Э.ШИЖИР: “НИЙТИЙН ЭРХ АШИГ” НЭРИЙН ДОР ХУВИЙН ХЭВШЛИЙН ЭРХИЙГ ЗӨРЧИЖ БОЛОХГҮЙ WWW.NEWS.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/10/31     Х.БУЛГАНТУЯАГ УИХ-ЫН ДЭД ДАРГААС ЧӨЛӨӨЛЖ, Ж.БАТ-ЭРДЭНИЙГ ДЭВШҮҮЛЭХЭЭР БОЛЛОО WWW.EGUUR.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/10/31     2025 ОНД ХӨВСГӨЛ АЙМГИЙН 8 СУМАНД 18 УДАА ГАЗАР ХӨДӨЛЖЭЭ WWW.EGUUR.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/10/31    

Events

Name organizer Where
MBCC “Doing Business with Mongolia seminar and Christmas Receptiom” Dec 10. 2024 London UK MBCCI London UK Goodman LLC

NEWS

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Mongolia to collaborate with China, South Korea and UN to tackle increasing yellow dust storms www.azertag.az

Mongolia has agreed to join forces with the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, and the United Nations to combat the rising frequency of yellow dust storms in recent years. Sandstorms originating from Mongolia’s desertified areas have reached air-quality and heat-stress levels in China and South Korea, making this issue one of urgent regional concern, according to MONTSAME.
State Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Mongolia Batbayar Shurenchuluun met with Deputy Executive Secretary for Partnership and Coordination of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) Hirohito Toda, and Head of the Director of the UN ESCAP East and North-East Asia Office of the (based in Incheon, South Korea) Dr. Ganbold Baasanjav, on October 24, 2025, and discussed this issue.
They emphasized the need to step up efforts to prevent sand- and dust-storms and strengthen climate-adaptation action, and agreed to launch joint regional and national initiatives and present them at the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (COP17) to be held next August in Ulaanbaatar. The parties also exchanged views on joint projects and programmes and the proposals Mongolia is putting forward ahead of COP17.
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North Korean Interpreter Defects in Mongolia, Striking Blow to Kim Jong-un’s Regime www.visiontimes.com

A North Korean interpreter reportedly defected to the South Korean Embassy in Ulaanbaatar during an official delegation visit to Mongolia in late August, marking a rare and significant blow to Kim Jong-un’s regime, according to diplomatic sources.
The delegation was led by Tae Hyung-cheol, president of the Academy of Social Sciences, one of Pyongyang’s leading policy institutes. The interpreter’s escape was kept secret for weeks before being confirmed by media outlets in Seoul.
Officials in South Korea have declined to comment, citing security concerns. However, Kyodo News reported that Pyongyang has already ordered the replacement of its ambassador to Mongolia. It remains unclear whether the ambassador was directly involved in the incident, but sources say he is now under investigation.
The interpreter’s identity has not been disclosed. Such roles are typically reserved for highly trusted elite members who are permitted to travel abroad—making this defection particularly embarrassing for the regime.
Tae’s trip was his first visit to Mongolia in seven years. While there, he met with pro–North Korean organizations to rally support for Pyongyang’s hardline stance against Seoul and its rejection of Korean reunification.
State media in Pyongyang made no mention of the visit, suggesting an active effort to suppress news of the defection.
The episode comes as the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), which recently celebrated its 80th anniversary, tightens internal controls and seeks closer ties with its few remaining allies.
First military defection under President Lee Jae-myung
In a separate development, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that a North Korean soldier crossed the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on Oct. 19 and surrendered to South Korean forces, expressing his wish to “start a new life in the South.”
According to the Chosun Ilbo, the soldier is being held in military custody while investigators determine his motives.
This marks the first military defection since President Lee Jae-myung took office, following two civilian crossings earlier this year on July 3 and July 31.
The last known soldier defection occurred in August 2024, when a serviceman crossed the border in Goseong County, Gangwon Province. Officials said no unusual military movements have been detected in the North since the most recent incident.
North Korea’s deepening economic crisis—marked by food shortages, hyperinflation, and corruption—has fueled a surge in escape attempts despite the grave risks.
Before the pandemic, nearly 3,000 North Koreans fled the country annually.
Border closures briefly reduced that number to double digits, but defections rebounded into the hundreds by 2024 as smuggling networks recovered.
At the same time, Kim Jong-un’s regime has intensified brutal punishments for those caught attempting to flee.
In February 2025, Daily NK reported that three men in South Hwanghae Province were executed by firing squad—each struck by nearly 90 rounds before their bodies were burned at the scene.
Eyewitnesses said elementary school students were forced to watch, with many collapsing in fear.
The victims—two brothers surnamed Kim and their friend Lee, all in their 30s—had spent months building a small boat to escape to South Korea.
They launched in January but lost their bearings in thick fog, mistakenly hailing a North Korean patrol vessel they believed to be South Korean fishermen. They were captured on Jan. 6.
On Feb. 20, residents of Ongjin County were ordered to gather at a rice field to witness the execution. The men were tied to wooden posts, blindfolded, and gagged before an officer declared: “Traitors deserve to die. In this country, they will not be buried.”
Each was struck by roughly 90 bullets before the remains were incinerated. Witnesses described the scene as “beyond recognition.”
A local source told Daily NK that defectors once faced up to 15 years of forced labor, but the regime has now reinstated the death penalty for escape attempts.
Analysis: The growing cracks in Kim’s control
The twin defections—one by a military officer and another by a trusted interpreter—signal deepening fractures inside North Korea’s ruling system, analysts say.
For Kim Jong-un, who relies on loyalty and secrecy to sustain power, the interpreter’s defection from an overseas mission is particularly damaging, exposing internal dissent even among the elite.
“It’s a symbolic failure,” said a former South Korean diplomat. “When even your interpreters start running, it means the trust network is breaking.”
Meanwhile, mounting executions and public fear reveal a regime under increasing pressure from economic collapse, international sanctions, and isolation—conditions that continue to push ordinary citizens, and even loyal cadres, to risk everything for a chance at freedom.
By Jun Wang

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Ulaanbaatar Signs Public-Private Partnership Agreement for Waste-to-Energy Plant www.montsame.mn

Under the Public-Private Partnership Law, Ulaanbaatar city signed a Public-Private Partnership Agreement on Waste-to-Energy Plant Construction on October 24, 2025.
The Agreement was signed by Nyambaatar Khishgee, the Governor of the Capital City and Mayor of Ulaanbaatar, and Tang Ya Yu, the Project Manager and the Director for the Ulaanbaatar Waste-to-Energy Plant, and Chairman of the Board of Renshou Sichuan LLC, the company selected as the project contractor, specialized in energy investment and environmental protection.
The USD 206.5 million plant will process 1,500 tons of waste per day, and is scheduled for completion in 30 months, after which ownership will be transferred to the state in 28 years.
The plant is expected to operate 8,000 hours annually, generating 35 MW of electricity. The electricity production cost is estimated to be around 14 cents per kWh, with electricity to be sold to the Ministry of Energy at around 8.4 cents per kWh. The remaining 5.6 cents will be covered by compensation fees collected from businesses that generate large amounts of industrial waste, serving as waste disposal fees transferred to the investor, according to the Governor's Office of the Capital City of Ulaanbaatar.
The plant will incinerate waste not only from Ulaanbaatar but also from Zuunmod, Hunnu city, Altanbulag, and Sergelen soums of Tuv aimag, free of charge. Additionally, waste buried in Ulaanchuluut and Tsagaandavaa landfills over the past 10 years will be excavated and incinerated to help restore the local environment and ecology.
Mayor Kh. Nyambaatar emphasized the project’s ecological importance, stating, “To transform Ulaanbaatar into a modern city, we need an engineering supply unit. It will enable a shift to financing through consumer tariffs and covering investment costs with revenues. The Waste-to-Energy Plant project is unique as the private sector provides 100 percent of the funding, and for the first time, the Government guarantees the public-private partnership. Globally, the concept of ‘urban mining’ is expanding, excavating previously buried waste, converting it to energy, and restoring the environment.”
Currently, Ulaanbaatar generates an average of 1,500 tons of household and industrial waste daily, which is buried at two nearby landfill sites.

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World Bank Launches $78M Power Grid Project to Boost Mongolia’s Energy Security www.devdiscourse.com

In a landmark move to modernize Mongolia’s electricity infrastructure and accelerate the country's shift to a low-carbon economy, the World Bank has approved a US$78 million investment for the Fourth Energy Sector Project. This initiative aims to strengthen the capacity, resilience, and sustainability of Mongolia’s Central Energy System (CES), while expanding access to renewable energy and reliable electricity for thousands of households across the country’s central and western regions.
The financing comes through the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and supports Mongolia’s broader ambitions under its New Recovery Policy and Government Action Plan for 2024–2028, which prioritize infrastructure development, green energy transition, and inclusive economic growth.
“The World Bank is pleased to continue supporting the Government of Mongolia in its efforts to strengthen the reliability and sustainability of the country’s electricity system,” said Taehyun Lee, World Bank Country Manager for Mongolia. “This project will help advance Mongolia’s low-carbon development goals while supporting inclusive economic growth and job creation.”
Project Overview: What the Fourth Energy Sector Project Covers
At its core, the project focuses on reinforcing Mongolia’s national grid and preparing the system to better integrate renewable energy. Key infrastructure components include:
Construction of a new 220 kV high-voltage transmission line linking the existing Mandal Substation to a new substation in Uvurkhangai Province.
Expansion and modernization of substations in Mandalgovi, Arvaikheer, and Bayankhongor, three critical hubs in the CES network.
Development of 110kV associated transmission lines to connect these substations efficiently.
The project will deliver a significant upgrade to the country’s electricity infrastructure, addressing one of Mongolia’s long-standing challenges: frequent power outages and limited grid coverage, particularly in sparsely populated or rural regions.
A Major Boost to Clean Energy Integration
Mongolia’s Central Energy System currently struggles with both capacity constraints and fossil fuel dependency, primarily coal-fired generation. By increasing grid capacity by over 590 megawatts (MW), the new project will reduce outages by nearly 50% in target areas and unlock the potential to integrate at least 150 MW of wind and solar PV capacity into the national grid.
This aligns with Mongolia’s commitment under the Paris Agreement, where the country pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 22.7% by 2030 and achieve 30% renewable energy penetration by 2030.
The new infrastructure will make it technically and economically feasible to bring clean energy projects online, especially in areas with high wind and solar potential such as the Gobi region and the steppe belt.
Improving Access and Climate Resilience
Approximately 200,000 residents across central and western Mongolia are expected to benefit directly from enhanced electricity reliability, a key enabler of economic opportunity, health, education, and digital services in remote areas.
The project also incorporates climate resilience measures, or “climate proofing,” in the design and construction of substations and transmission lines. These will ensure that Mongolia’s power infrastructure can withstand climate-induced hazards, such as extreme temperatures, dust storms, and seasonal floods, which are becoming more frequent due to climate change.
Part of a Regional Clean Energy Transformation
The Fourth Energy Sector Project is part of the World Bank’s Accelerating Sustainable Energy Transition Multi-Phase Programmatic Approach (ASET-MPA). This initiative aims to support countries across East Asia and the Pacific in scaling up renewable energy, integrating clean energy into grids, and implementing reforms for sustainable power sector development.
For Mongolia, this represents more than an infrastructure upgrade—it is a strategic shift toward a resilient, sustainable, and inclusive energy future.
Mongolia’s Energy Journey with the World Bank
Since Mongolia joined the World Bank in 1991, the institution has provided over US$1.5 billion in funding across sectors, with energy infrastructure being a recurring priority. Previous phases of energy sector development focused on transmission upgrades, energy efficiency, rural electrification, and technical assistance for policy and regulatory reform.
The Fourth Energy Sector Project builds upon those foundations, introducing modern engineering, climate-smart design, and forward-looking investment to prepare Mongolia’s grid for the coming decades.
As the country moves to meet its climate goals, create jobs, and improve service delivery, this project signals a strong partnership between Mongolia and the World Bank to tackle global and local energy challenges in tandem.

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Inside Mongolia’s ‘Mars camp’: The extreme adventure that wants to turn tourists into astronauts www.cnn.com

It’s day 25. You wake up in your bunk pod in a snow-capped Martian landscape, far from civilization. Outside it’s -30 degrees Celsius (-22 degrees Fahrenheit). After meditating and eating a breakfast of freeze-dried dumplings, you and your six-person crew don space suits over your thermal underwear and head out into the sandstorm on a mission.
This isn’t a fever dream. It’s a month-long survival challenge deep in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert that’s designed to simulate life on Mars — for tourists.
The project, called the MARS-V Project, is under development by MARS-V, a non-governmental organization based in Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar. They’re working to build a fully-fledged Mars analog station in the Gobi to prepare for human travel to the red planet — and expect to welcome the first tourists to the mock Mars camp by 2029.
Why Mongolia?
Nowhere on Earth mimics the geography and climate of Mars more closely than Mongolia’s Gobi. An arid, barren landscape with extreme temperature swings from 45 to -40 degrees Celsius (113 to -40 degrees Fahrenheit). The iron oxide-tinted soil has a reddish hue, making it look eerily Martian.
This combination of isolation, altitude and temperature is what makes the site so scientifically valuable as a training ground for scientists and astronauts — and as a test site for equipment and rovers.
For MARS-V, it also offers another potential: tourism.
Mongila's Gobi Desert has the same reddish hue as the Martian landscape, thanks to high levels of iron oxide in the soil. Photo credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS (left) / MARS-V (right)
“Your objective is to survive in an environment that is very, very isolated,’ says Enkhtuvshin Doyodkhuu, MARS-V CEO. “You have to have this simulation mindset that you’re on another planet: you need to feel that if you don’t follow protocol, you die.”
Surviving the simulation
Each participant will have to pass physical, psychological and mental agility tests, then undergo a three-month virtual astronaut training program on everything from oxygen protocol to the psychology of isolation.
Once you arrive in Mongolia, it’s three days of in-person drills in Ulaanbaatar with your new teammates before handing in your phone and beginning the ten-hour journey by bumpy road to the site, drifting away from civilization across stretches of pale-red dust.
“It’s surreal,” says Doyodkhuu. “This feeling of vastness, of endless empty space — the Gobi really gives you that “Mad Max” kind of feeling. It’s beautiful if you think about it, but it can be overwhelming to some.”
Your home for the month? Mars “habitats” — interconnected modular pods with living quarters, a laboratory, and a greenhouse. Each day begins with the same strict daily regimen that real astronauts might face: vitamins, meditation, exercise, breakfast, and a team briefing for the day ahead.
“Meditation has to be a big part of the program,” says Doyodkhuu. “One very risky thing when it comes to Mars pioneers is we don’t really know what’s going to happen with their psychology, because no other person has been away from Earth that long.”
Doyodkhuu says the Mars simulation for tourists could have a similar psychological effect.
“You’ll have this sort of claustrophobia; you’ll miss your Earth.”
Days at the Mars-V camp are filled with challenges and tasks: for example, the crew might take the rover out to conduct geological mapping or collect soil samples. Communication with “Earth” (the Mars-V mission support team) happens on a timed delay to mimic interplanetary lag. Simulations take place between October and March in brutal winter conditions, when the Gobi freezes solid.
“Minus 27 degrees Celsius (-16.6 degrees Fahrenheit) would be a warm day,” laughs the CEO. Crews wear thermal base layers, overalls, and analog spacesuits when working outdoors.
To make it as realistic as possible, the team from Mars-V will hide all external support out of sight.
“Compared to an Arctic expedition, this is controlled,” Doyodkhuu says. “If there was any real chance of death, we’d stop the simulation.”
Meals will feature freeze-dried Mongolian dishes — like rehydrated dumplings or mutton stews — designed to mimic astronaut rations while honoring local culture.
There’s even a design echo between the nomadic Mongolian ger — the traditional felt tent sometimes referred to as yurts — and the Martian dome prototypes being developed by the MARS-V engineering team.
“We [Mongolians] have thousands of years of history living in isolated places, with very limited resources,” Doyodkhuu explains. “We’re just taking that idea to another planet.”
Part of history
The idea of trialing planetary life on Earth isn’t new. NASA and ESA have long used analog sites for experiments and training.
But MARS-V’s plan to merge scientific research with tourism arrives at a pivotal moment: private space travel is finally edging into the mainstream. SpaceX and Blue Origin are drawing celebrities like Katy Perry, Tom Hanks, and Kim Kardashian into a new era of luxury space tourism.
But, for those who can’t afford a $28 million ticket to space, Mongolia’s MARS-V camp will offer a more accessible way to experience that cosmic allure at a fraction of the cost, expected to be around $6,000 per person for a month at the camp, and pre-camp training and evaluation.
It’s Mars tourism, without the launch cost — or the suffocating risk of decompression.
MARS-V’s analog station is in the early stages of development, with designs for the habitat, space suits and food completed. Doyodkhuu says they expect the habitats to be ready and open to the public within the next two to three years.
“You have a lot of time to think out there,” says Doyodkhuu. “Being in this otherworldly place for one month trying to survive with five other people, it gives you this renewed outlook on life.”
“If you believe that humans will become a multiplanetary species in the future, actually being part of this history, going to an analog astronaut training center and challenging yourself, is going to leave a big impact on people.”
The soil in the Gobi Desert is rich in iron oxide, giving the soil a reddish hue similar to the Martian landscape. MARS-V
For the right traveler — whether thrill-seeker, explorer or space enthusiast — it may be the ultimate holiday. But if the thought of freezing cold isolation and bunk pods sounds more like punishment than adventure, Mongolia’s Gobi already offers glimpses of the otherworldly in a far more comfortable setting.
During the summer at the Gobi’s luxury Three Camel Lodge, travelers can switch thermals for a spa towel and freeze-dried stews for an extensive whiskey selection. You will still need to strap in for the journey though, it takes 7-8 hours to reach the lodge from Ulaanbaatar. This is after all one of the most remote places on Earth - and perhaps the closest you can get to Mars, without leaving the planet.

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High-rise buildings might become burden in overcrowded city www.ubpost.mn

As Ulaanbaatar City continues to expand, the number of high-rise buildings grows steadily, and the capital city’s population density increasingly concentrates toward the downtown. In other words, the proportion of the national population residing in the capital city rises with each passing year. Although Ulaanbaatar City occupies only 0.3 percent of Mongolia’s total territory, data from the National Statistics Office indicates that in 2023, 49.5 percent of the country’s population lived in the capital city.
According to a geographical study on internal migration in Mongolia and the factors influencing it—both push and pull forces—it is projected that by 2045, approximately 60 percent of the country’s total population will reside in Ulaanbaatar. Originally, the capital city’s infrastructure was designed to support 400,000 to 500,000 residents, yet today its population has multiplied far beyond that capacity—a fact well known to all. However, successive governments and city administrations have failed to implement decisive solutions to address the issue.
According to Mongolia’s norms and standards on the urban and settlement planning and construction, in areas with high-, medium-, and low-rise buildings (ranging from four to 17 floors), population density should not exceed 300 people per hectare (10,000 square meters) when each person is allotted 20 square meters of living space. This already represents a very dense urban environment—especially when compared to the city’s ger district, where only 40 to 60 people occupy the same area.
In recent years, 1,000s of households have been concentrated within a single high-rise residential complex, where previously only a few families lived on individual plots. While such development addresses the pressing need for housing, it also introduces new risks if safety and quality standards are not fully ensured. Experts consistently warn that the taller the building, the greater the risks during earthquakes, fires, or other disasters—particularly when construction deviates from established norms and results in substandard structures.
A 2023 study by the Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics revealed that 52.6 percent of Mongolia’s territory—amounting to 822,922 square kilometers—is located in zones of high seismic activity. Six fault lines have been identified in and around Ulaanbaatar, and according to the city’s micro-zoning map, the entire capital lies within seismic zones rated VII–IX on the intensity scale. Specifically, 47.6 percent of the city is classified as Zone VII, 50.4 percent as Zone VIII, and two percent as Zone IX.
As of 2020, 73.7 percent of the nation’s 902,609 households were determined to be at risk of experiencing earthquakes of magnitude eight or higher. In other words, 77.1 percent of Mongolia’s territory—and a striking 98 percent of Ulaanbaatar—is located in areas of high seismic activity, exposing a significant portion of the population to potential danger.
When asked about the vulnerability of the capital city’s buildings to earthquakes and other disasters, Colonel D.Baasansuren, Head of the Risk Management Department of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), explained, “According to Japanese experts’ calculations, 40 percent of all buildings in Ulaanbaatar would likely collapse in an earthquake of seven or more on the Richter scale. As of 2022, there were around 130,000 buildings nationwide, of which approximately 117,900 were located in Ulaanbaatar. Many of these structures are aging and urgently need reconstruction or replacement. Risk assessments conducted in educational institutions revealed that 64.4 percent of buildings fall into medium or higher seismic risk categories. Similarly, 2,320 healthcare facilities nationwide were classified as highly vulnerable to earthquakes.”
D.Baasansuren added that a building’s seismic resilience and structural weakness are determined through a process called seismic passporting, which involves on-site measurements, testing, and analysis by certified structural engineers. However, due to limited funding, many buildings have yet to undergo full passporting assessments.
The city’s construction requirements specify that each building must be designed to withstand a specific seismic intensity based on Ulaanbaatar’s micro-zoning map. Permits for high-rise construction are issued by the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing while the emergency agency only oversees compliance with fire safety regulations.
“We have no authority to evaluate a building’s earthquake resistance,” D.Baasansuren clarified. “Our oversight begins only after the building is approved by the State Commission, focusing mainly on fire safety systems and adherence to relevant standards.”
Under Mongolia’s construction norms, buildings are classified as follows: one to three floors are considered low-rise, four to six floors as medium-rise, seven to 16 floors as multi-storey, and 17 floors or higher as high-rise. In other words, structures ranging from 17 to 35 stories—or 51 to 150 meters in height—fall into the high-rise category. Responding to growing urban demand, the government approved a new high-rise building planning standard in 2023, aiming to regulate the design, safety, and construction practices of such developments more effectively.
In recent years, the construction of residential buildings soaring 20 stories or higher has become an increasingly common sight across Mongolia—particularly in Ulaanbaatar City, where the skyline is transforming at an unprecedented pace. These towering structures are classified as critical facilities, meaning they must meet rigorous technical and safety requirements. This includes installing automatic fire suppression systems, designing precise and accessible emergency exits, and ensuring structural integrity capable of preventing catastrophic collapse. Regulations also mandate that every high-rise must include a rooftop rescue cabin and a designated helipad to facilitate emergency evacuations.
In theory, these standards are clear and comprehensive. Yet in practice, uncertainty remains over whether many of Ulaanbaatar’s skyscrapers actually comply—particularly regarding rooftop helicopter landing pads and other essential emergency features. Construction guidelines also stipulate that engineers must calculate the effects of snow, ice, and wind loads, all of which place enormous stress on tall structures in Mongolia’s harsh continental climate. Moreover, because the capital lies almost entirely within an active seismic zone, earthquake resilience is not just a recommendation—it is the very lifeblood of a building’s design.
According to the standards on high-rise building planning, developers must explicitly factor in seismic activity when constructing buildings taller than 100 meters in regions with magnitude five earthquake risk, and those over 75 meters in areas prone to magnitude six quakes. In other words, the rule applies directly to the city’s 17–35-story residential towers. However, despite such stringent technical requirements, NEMA currently has no legal authority to monitor or intervene in the construction process. Its oversight extends only to verifying fire safety systems—leaving the broader structural and seismic safety of these high-rises outside its purview. Experts argue that this narrow scope of supervision is deeply concerning for a city situated in one of the most seismically active regions of the country.
Permits for mid-rise buildings of up to 16 floors are issued by the City Development Department of City Standards, which is responsible for assessing geological and environmental risks before granting construction approval. However, when asked to clarify safety requirements for newly built structures in Ulaanbaatar, the department declined to provide information—raising further questions about transparency and accountability in urban planning.
Mongolia currently operates under more than 400 building norms and regulations, about 600 national standards, and numerous other technical guidelines. Collectively, they are meant to govern every stage of construction—from planning and design to engineering, assembly, and operation. Yet according to specialists at the Construction Development Center, enforcement remains inconsistent. “We have sufficient norms and regulations,” they acknowledge, “but the mechanisms to ensure strict compliance and feedback are still weak.”
Meanwhile, the race toward vertical urbanization shows no signs of slowing. Just last week, the “Nogoon Nuur” residential complex—comprising eight 21-story apartment blocks with a total of 1,008 housing units—was officially inaugurated. Similar large-scale projects continue to emerge under the city’s ger district redevelopment programs, where the push for denser housing has led to increasingly tall structures.
However, experts warn that safety must never lag behind ambition. Even today, Mongolia’s fire trucks can only extend ladders to reach about 10 stories. The recently imported mechanical fire engines from France—capable of reaching 30 to 42 meters—represent an improvement, yet remain insufficient for many of the capital city’s new high-rises. This stark limitation underscores an important truth: in advanced cities around the world, fire and disaster safety in high-rise buildings is not ensured by longer ladders, but by resilient design from the very foundation upward. Planning for emergencies, incorporating advanced evacuation systems, and building with quality materials are not optional extras—they are the difference between safety and tragedy in a city that is quite literally reaching for the sky.
Ultimately, as Ulaanbaatar continues its vertical ascent, the city finds itself at a defining moment—caught between the promise of modern urban growth and the peril of unmitigated risk. The gleaming towers that now dominate the skyline stand as symbols of progress, aspiration, and a rapidly evolving economy. Yet beneath their glass facades lies a critical question: are these structures truly built to withstand the forces of nature and time? Without uncompromising enforcement of construction standards, rigorous oversight, and genuine interagency collaboration, these high-rises risk transforming from icons of development into monuments of negligence. If Ulaanbaatar is to grow not only higher but stronger, the foundations of its progress must rest upon transparency, accountability, and safety—ensuring that every structure reaching toward the sky also reflects the country’s commitment to resilience, responsibility, and the enduring well-being of its people.

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Mongolia Energy Projects Revenue Decline Amid Economic Slowdown www.tipranks.com

Mongolia Energy Corporation Limited has announced a projected significant decrease in total revenue for the six months ending September 2025, expecting it to not exceed HK$900 million, compared to HK$1,699.9 million in the same period the previous year. This decline is attributed to a global economic downturn and a slowdown in the steel market in China, leading to weak demand and falling prices for coking coal. The company is still finalizing its financial results, with further reviews and adjustments pending, and advises caution to shareholders and potential investors.
The most recent analyst rating on 0276) stock is a Hold with a HK$0.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Mongolia Energy stock, see the HK:0276 Stock Forecast page.
More about Mongolia Energy
Mongolia Energy Corporation Limited is a company incorporated in Bermuda, primarily involved in the energy sector. The company focuses on the production and supply of coking coal, which is a critical component in steel manufacturing, with a significant market presence in China.
Average Trading Volume: 154,384
Technical Sentiment Signal: Buy
Current Market Cap: HK$137.3M

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Mongolia to Increase Fuel Imports from Russia www.montsame.mn

Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources of Mongolia Damdinnyam Gongor met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Mongolia, Evsikov Alexey Nikolaevich, on October 22, 2025.
During the meeting, Minister Damdinnyam requested cooperation to increase the volume of fuel supplied from Russia and accelerate transportation to eliminate the artificially created fuel shortage. Ambassador A. N. Evsikov noted that recent social media reports suggesting a reduction in fuel supply from Russia are misleading, emphasizing that there are no issues with fuel shipments to Mongolia and that deliveries will continue without interruption.
As a result of the meeting, the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources announced that the volume of fuel imports from Russia will be increased.

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Artificial Lake Park Planned Near Nogoon Nuur www.montsame.mn

Chief Architect of Ulaanbaatar city, Tugsdelger Chinbat, and city officials visited the area around Nogoon Nuur in Sukhbaatar District’s 9th khoroo to review plans for new green space development.
“Population growth in the 9th, 10th, and 11th khoroos of Sukhbaatar District has created a new residential zone, but access to green spaces, schools, and kindergartens remains limited. Under the ‘20-Minute City’ concept, we are working to create a more accessible and livable environment. As part of this, we plan to clear a 4.5-hectare area near Nogoon Nuur and establish a public park featuring an artificial lake,” Tugsdelger noted.
The Chief Architect added that 85 land plots are affected by the project, of which around 40 have already been cleared. “Studies show that wetland soil releases twice as much oxygen as forested areas. Since the Nogoon Nuur area has marshy soil, it is highly suitable for developing an artificial lake and green park.”
City officials also announced plans to build small neighborhood parks with green spaces in 51 locations across Ulaanbaatar. Architectural planning has been approved for 34 of these sites, which are now in the design phase.
Additionally, to promote urban tourism, the city is developing a walking route within a 1.5-2 km radius connecting Gandantegchinlin Monastery, the State Department Store, the Chinggis Khaan National Museum, the Urt Tsagaan Park, and the future Nogoon Nuur Park.

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Officers Participating in Peacekeeping Operations to Receive 80 Percent of Mission Expenses www.montsame.mn

It has been decided that 80 percent of the UN reimbursement for troop contributions to peacekeeping operations will be allocated as mission allowance to the personnel of the Armed Forces contingent, and the remaining 20 percent will be channeled to the Armed Forces Development Fund.
The United Nations reimburses the Government for compensation provided to service members who have served in peacekeeping operations, calculated individually for each member of the respective military contingent. However, in the case of Mongolia, the mission allowance granted to the personnel of the military contingent serving in UN peacekeeping operations has been provided through the Government’s decision. At the Government meeting on October 23, 2025, the Government’s resolution stipulates that 80 percent will be allocated to the peacekeepers and 20 percent will be channeled to the Armed Forces Development Fund. Previously, in 2006, the distribution was 60 percent to peacekeepers and 40 percent to the Armed Forces Development Fund. Furthermore, Resolution No. 270 amended this to a 70:30 split in 2011.
Member of Parliament and Minister of Defense Batlut Damba stated, “A decision has been made to change the mission allowance for personnel participating in UN peacekeeping operations. Since 2002, in duplicate count, approximately 23,000 service members have served in UN peacekeeping operations over a period of 23 years. At the Government meeting on October 23, 2025, it was resolved that 80 percent of the allowance will be given to the personnel who performed the duty, and 20 percent will be allocated to the Armed Forces Development Fund. This marks a significant improvement in the social welfare of the service members participating in peacekeeping operations. The key feature of this decision is that service members who have completed a full year of duty in distant lands will now be provided with an additional MNT 6.0 million in mission allowance.
Currently, a motorized rifle battalion comprising 850 personnel is honorably executing its duty in the Republic of South Sudan, while a medical team with four service members is doing the same in the Republic of Lebanon.

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