Prime Minister Reviews Power Plant Upgrades Ahead of 2026–2027 Winter www.montsame.mn

Prime Minister Uchral Nyam-Osor has visited the National Dispatching Center and Thermal Power Plants No. 3 and No. 4 to review progress on maintenance and modernization projects financed through the state budget and the Government’s Reserve Fund, while issuing additional instructions to officials.

According to Baljinnyam G, Executive Director of the National Dispatching Center, 92.5 percent of the tasks assigned by the Prime Minister during his previous visit in spring have been completed. The center is responsible for the 24-hour operational management and coordination of Mongolia’s electricity system.

Mongolia currently has an installed electricity generation capacity of 1,905 MW, including 1,797 MW in the Central Energy System. Electricity shortages are currently covered through imports from Russia. During the peak demand period of winter 2026–2027, electricity consumption in the central region is projected to reach 1,956 MW. The government plans to cover the capacity gap through 80 MW of electricity imports from China and the commissioning of a new 70 MW power plant in Sukhbaatar aimag.

Prime Minister Uchral warned that electricity demand could increase by 120–150 MW this winter, leaving the system with almost no reserve capacity. He instructed the National Dispatching Center to closely monitor the balance between electricity generation and consumption, prepare contingency plans for unexpected equipment failures and import disruptions, and ensure the professional coordination of newly connected energy sources.

The Government has allocated MNT 5.45 billion from its Reserve Fund for urgent repairs to power plants. Last winter, thermal power plants experienced 158 equipment failures and operational disruptions. The prime minister stressed that such incidents must not be repeated and pledged continued government support for resolving urgent issues.

Final Contingent of Mongolian Peacekeepers Returns Home from South Sudan www.montsame.mn

The final group of personnel from the 15th Motorized Rifle Battalion of the  Mongolian Armed Forces, which served a one-year deployment under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), has returned home.

The returning personnel were welcomed by Minister of Defence Batlut Damba, Chief of the General Staff of the Mongolian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Ganbyamba Sunrev, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Major General  Baatar B., and other senior military and government officials.

During the welcoming ceremony, Lieutenant General Ganbyamba commended the peacekeepers for successfully fulfilling their duties and upholding the achievements and reputation of previous Mongolian contingents serving in UN peacekeeping operations.

He expressed appreciation for their professionalism and dedication, noting that their service had further enhanced the international reputation of Mongolian peacekeepers as ‘Soldiers of the World." He also highlighted their valuable contribution to implementing Mongolia’s foreign policy through political and diplomatic means, particularly in supporting the country’s independence, national security and international commitments, reported the Ministry of Defence.

PM Calls for Coordinated National Approach to Water Sector Investments www.montsame.mn

Prime Minister Uchral Nyam-Osor met with the task force supporting the Global Water Partnership Organization's (GWPO) Global Water Envoy on October 29.

GWPO announced the appointment of MP Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai, former Prime Minister of Mongolia, as GWPO Global Champion and Special Envoy for the Asia-Pacific High-Level Panel on Water and Climate Resilience Investments.

The Government considers that in connection with this appointment, Mongolia has an opportunity to take the lead in mobilizing investment in the water sector across the Asia-Pacific region. The Prime Minister expressed the Government’s full support for the task force’s work.

The Prime Minister Uchral noted that growing water demand, climate change, aridification, desertification, the uneven distribution of water resources, population growth, and economic development needs are all placing pressure on water security. He emphasized that investment in the water sector should not be directed toward isolated projects, but instead guided by a long-term, integrated national policy aimed at ensuring water security, building up water reserves, and protecting ecosystems.

In this regard, he highlighted several priority areas, including ensuring the safety of drinking water supplies, expanding groundwater resource surveys, increasing surface water storage, restoring lake ecosystems, developing strategic water infrastructure and establishing an integrated financing mechanism.

The prime minister also stressed the importance of increasing investment in the water sector while strengthening the pool of qualified professionals and introducing advanced equipment and technologies. Effective integrated water resources management is essential to protecting, sustainably using, storing, and restoring water resources on a sound scientific and economic basis, he said.

Furthermore, he emphasized that water should be regarded not merely as a natural resource but as a strategic asset essential to the country’s sustainable socioeconomic development, quality of life, food and energy security, industrial growth, and regional development. Accordingly, water-sector policies, planning, and investment should be closely aligned with the country’s broader economic development strategy.

Prime Minister of Mongolia Holds Phone Talks with Prime Minister of Japan www.montsame.mn

 Prime Minister of Japan Uchral Nyam-Osor held a telephone conversation with the Prime Minister of Japan, Sanae Takaichi, on October 29, 2026.

During the conversation, Prime Minister Takaichi expressed concern over the damage caused by a fire at Numrug Strictly Protected Area in Dornod aimag and conveyed her deep sympathy to the Mongolian people.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has dispatched experts to the site. Prime Minister Takaichi said Japan planned to cooperate in the restoration of Numrug Strictly Protected Area based on the team’s findings.

Prime Minister Uchral welcomed the Japanese Government’s science-based approach to addressing the fire and its plans to carry out environmental restoration in stages effectively. He also expressed Mongolia’s readiness to cooperate with Japan in these efforts.

The two Prime Ministers agreed to further strengthen friendly relations and cooperation between Mongolia and Japan on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2027.

The two sides also agreed that, as countries enjoying friendly relations, their governments would work together to overcome difficult times.

Mongolian mining company says copper exports have dropped due to China border restrictions www.abcnews.com

The operator of one of Mongolia’s largest copper mines said Thursday its exports of copper concentrate to China have dropped by about 70% in the past two weeks due to restrictions at a border crossing.

The restrictions have raised concerns over potential revenue losses and disruptions to Mongolia’s massive mineral sector.

Oyu Tolgoi LLC, which operates Oyu Tolgoi, one of the world’s largest copper mines, said the number of truck convoys transporting copper concentrate across the Chinese border has fallen from the usual 12 to 13 per day to just around four. The restrictions affect vehicles crossing at China’s Ganqimaodu Border Port, which is adjacent to Mongolia’s Gashuunsukhait Border Port.

The export cuts amount to a decline of about $300 million compared to normal operating conditions and could reach $1.2 billion if restrictions continue through the end of the year, local media reported on Wednesday.

Oyu Tolgoi LLC did not confirm the reported losses in a statement to The Associated Press on Thursday.

Mongolia is a major supplier of coal and copper to China, the world’s largest consumer of both commodities.

Mongolian border officials said the slowdown was related to infrastructure and technology upgrades at China’s Ganqimaodu Border Port.

Authorities in China’s Inner Mongolia region did not immediately answer questions from the AP.

In August, Chinese authorities introduced an in-vehicle facial recognition system for truck drivers crossing the border, and installation and maintenance work have affected border processing capacity, according to the Mongolian border authorities.

Mongolia’s government said the Chinese embassy in Ulaanbaatar informed it that the work, originally due to end by late September according to Mongolian news reports, may continue until the end of December.

Mongolian Finance Minister Mendsaikhan Zagdjav said some ministers were instructed during a Cabinet meeting to visit the border crossing and meet with Chinese authorities, according to local news reports.

All transport routes on the Mongolian side remain open and the government was not aware of any political reasons behind the restrictions, said the minister of Road and Transport, Delgersaikhan Borkhuu.

Mongolia’s copper sector has become an increasingly important contributor to national export revenues. During the first nine months of 2026, copper concentrate exports reportedly reached 2 million tons.

The border crossing restrictions have also affected Mongolia’s coal exports through Gashuunsukhait, with the number of vehicles crossing falling to just over 1,000 a day from 1,300 a day, border authorities said.

Mongolia has abundant mineral resources, including coal, copper, gold, uranium and fluorspar, and its economy relies heavily on mining, which accounts for roughly a quarter of its GDP. It is particularly sensitive to disruptions to cross-border trade and fluctuations in commodity prices.

Last year, coal and copper concentrates together accounted for 82.3% of Mongolia’s merchandise exports, while 89.4% of total exports went to China. Mongolia was also China’s leading supplier of imported coking coal, accounting for approximately 51% of Chinese coking coal imports in 2025.

By The Associated Press

New report finds Trump Jr.’s Mongolia trip went far beyond hunting www.ms.now

How many scandalous activities do you think Donald Trump Jr. can get up to on one hunting trip? Well, new reporting from the Financial Times suggests that his summer trip to Mongolia was about a lot more than hunting.

Let’s start with scandal No. 1: While on that trip, a guide told the Financial Times that the president’s son shot and killed an endangered sheep. As awful as that is, it is unfortunately not that surprising. Donald Trump Jr. has reportedly killed at least two more of that same kind of endangered sheep in the past decade.

Scandal No. 2: While most Americans are struggling to pay for gas at the pump, it appears that this hunting trip may have cost taxpayers nearly $19,000. According to federal records reviewed by the Financial Times, the U.S. embassy in Mongolia’s capital paid $18,715 for hotel rooms tied to an unspecified Secret Service visit at the same time as Donald Trump Jr.’s trip.

As a member of the president’s family, he is entitled to Secret Service protection, but I remember the days when that kind of taxpayer expense tied to a luxury vacation of a member of the first family was a scandal in its own right.

I really don’t think the president of Mongolia wanted to talk to Donald Trump Jr. because of their shared love of hunting. I think it had a heck of a lot more to do with the fact that he is the son of the president of the United States.

Speaking of spending money on the president’s family, that brings me to scandal No. 3: It turns out that attendance on this weeklong hunting trip was the prize given to the highest bidders as part of a series of charity auctions. Records indicate that one bidder paid $140, 000 and another $225,000 for the honor and privilege of joining Donald Trump Jr. on this seven-day hunting trip.

At the auction, Donald Trump Jr. reportedly tried to incentivize bidders by joking that he is “very sexy in camo.” But I doubt the president’s eldest son’s looks or personality are why anyone was willing to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to go hunting with him.

As the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington put it to the Financial Times: “Buying access to power is an ethics concern, whether it’s through a charity, a wedding, a campaign donation or a lavish gift.”

Speaking of access to power, that brings me to scandal No. 4: After Donald Trump Jr.’s week of hunting, the Financial Times reports that he traded his “sexy” camo for a suit and held a series of meetings. One of those meetings was a dinner with Mongolia’s president.

After the dinner, a spokesperson for the Mongolian government reportedly posted photos on Facebook and wrote that the leader and Donald Trump Jr. discussed U.S.-Mongolia relations and potential business opportunities.

The Facebook post was then quickly taken down. A spokesperson for the Mongolian president told the Financial Times that the two did not discuss politics at the dinner. A spokesperson for Donald Trump Jr. told the paper that it was just an unofficial meeting where they largely discussed the outdoors.

Mongolia suspends road transport on key coal corridor to China www.mysteel.net

Road transportation along Mongolia's Tavantolgoi-Manlai-Khangi corridor is suspended beginning from 19:00 on October 27, impacting shipments on a major route for Mongolian coal exports to China, Mysteel learnt from a notice issued by Takhilt Khairkhan Trans LLC, concessionaire and operator of the 477-kilometre corridor.
The suspension follows prolonged concerns over road conditions and maintenance. In an August 20 letter, Mongolia's Ministry of Road and Transport said a joint inspection conducted in June had identified severe damage along approximately 250 km of the concession road in South Gobi province. By October 15, however, rectification work on the section of road still failed to meet the ministry's requirements. The road has therefore been ordered closed till the repairs are completed, according to Mysteel's survey.

Abundant coal deposits make Tavantolgoi the most important coal production hub in Mongolia, especially of premium quality coking coal.  For example, Mongolian 5# primary coking coal, widely used in China, is mainly produced in the region. On the other side of the corridor, the Khangi border crossing leads to China's Mandula border port, one of the major coal transport conduits to North China's Inner Mongolia, Mysteel Global notes.

According to Mysteel's tracking at the border port, over January-September this year China imported 12.76 million tonnes of Mongolian coal through Mandula, more than triple the volume cleared at the Customs post during the same period last year.

Coal shipments on the route, however, do not rely exclusively on the road. Since 2024, Mongolian Railway has been transporting coal traded by Erdenes Tavantolgoi on the The Mongolian Stock Exchange to the Mandula border port through a combined rail-road system, Mongolian state news agency Montsame reported in March. On October 28, shipments between the two border crossings were also continuing, according to market sources.

The impact of the road closure on flows of Mongolian 5# primary coking coal into China, however, is expected to be limited, as the coal type is mainly transported from Tavantolgoi via another route to China's Ganqimaodu border port, the largest among the coal conduits in Inner Mongolia west of the Mandula port, Mysteel Global notes.

So far this month, the average number of coal trucks from Mongolia via Mandula into China reached around 500 per day, of which fewer than 60 carried Mongolian 5# raw coal, Mysteel's tracking showed. (The others mostly carried thermal coal.) Transportation on the Ganqimaodu route remains smooth, handling over 710 trucks/day on average so far this month.

Written by Adrian Zhou, zhouwenhaoa@mysteel.com

Edited by Russ McCulloch, russ.mcculloch@mysteel.com

E-Mart Opens 7th Store in Mongolia, With 8th Set for November www.en.sedaily.com

E-Mart (139480.KS) is accelerating its expansion in Mongolia, opening its seventh and eighth stores in Ulaanbaatar in quick succession.

The retailer said on the 29th that it was opening its seventh store in the Mongolian capital that day at UG Arena, a sports and cultural complex. The mid-sized outlet spans about 3,272 square meters and was designed as a family-oriented store, reflecting a surrounding commercial district dense with large apartment complexes and offices. It focuses on groceries, ready-made meals and alcoholic beverages, and also houses Korean food and beverage brands along with fashion and cosmetics sections. The store includes a lounge area so customers can shop, dine out and spend leisure time in one place.

E-Mart plans to open an eighth store next month at a department store in Ulaanbaatar. Since opening its first Mongolian store in 2016, the company has diversified its store formats from large outlets to small and mid-sized ones. Its No Brand specialty stores, which entered the market this year, opened a first location in July and a second early this month, and the company plans to expand to seven by the end of the year.

"Based on the strong trust and expertise we have built over 10 years in Mongolia, we are successfully expanding our business from large stores to small and mid-sized stores and No Brand specialty stores," said Kang Young-seok, head of E-Mart's overseas business division. "We will continue to present shopping spaces optimized for local customers' lifestyles and the characteristics of each commercial district, further solidifying our dominance in the Mongolian retail market."

UN General Assembly First Committee Adopts Mongolia’s Resolution on Nuclear-Weapon-Free Status www.montsame.mn

The First Committee of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly approved by consensus a draft resolution initiated by Mongolia, titled “Mongolia’s International Security and Nuclear-Weapon-Free Status,” at its plenary meeting on October 27.

Presenting the draft resolution, Munkhchimeg B., First Secretary of the Multilateral Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia, emphasized that Mongolia’s internationally recognized nuclear-weapon-free status represents a tangible contribution and effort by the country toward building a world free of nuclear weapons.

Mongolia has been submitting the resolution to the UN General Assembly for consideration and adoption every two years since 1998.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 34 UN member states joined as co-sponsors of the resolution adopted by the First Committee at this year’s session.

Mongolia Harvests 88% of Autumn Crops www.montsame.mn

Nationwide autumn harvest progress reached 88.1% as of October 26, according to a report presented during the regular Cabinet session on October 28.

Iderbat Ts., Minister of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry, reported that farmers had harvested 569,500 tonnes of grain from 327,100 hectares, including 507,100 tonnes of wheat from 288,100 hectares.The harvest also included 174,800 tonnes of potatoes, 206,400 tonnes of vegetables, 230,600 tonnes of fodder crops, and 39,300 tonnes of oilseed.

According to preliminary harvest estimates, the government initially targeted a yield of 555,300 tonnes of grain (including 497,100 tonnes of wheat), 168,200 tonnes of potatoes, 218,400 tonnes of vegetables, 50,400 tonnes of oilseed, and 201,800 tonnes of fodder crops.