TMK set for production from seven wells at Mongolian gas field www.smh.com.au

TMK Energy has completed its seventh and final pilot production well at its giant Gurvantes XXXV coal seam gas project in Mongolia’s South Gobi Basin.
The company says it is now poised to bring all seven wells to optimal production rates in the Lucky Fox area by the end of August, accelerating its reservoir depressurisation efforts to unlock final commercial gas flows at the pilot production area.
The Lucky Fox 7 (LF-07) well is currently undergoing final commissioning and production is expected to commence in the coming days.
The company has utilised its onsite resources to perform essential maintenance on the neighbouring LF-06 well, which involved cleaning the downhole pump and clearing fill to prevent future interruptions at fully depressured commercial flows. Production at LF-06 is now reinstated.
‘With seven pilot production wells online, we hope and expect to soon see all the hard work and capital investment that has been made bearing fruit.’
TMK Energy chief executive officer Dougal Ferguson
All seven active wells at the Lucky Fox Pilot project now have operational redundancy, meaning that all capital costs are accounted for and the reservoir will only require maintenance to manage production.
Commissioning LF-07 will provide TMK with critical data on reservoir pressure reduction at its location, which is about the same distance from the company’s LF-01, LF-02 and LF-05 wells. The desorption pressure must be consistent across the pilot reservoir area to return a smooth commercial gas flow following dewatering.
TMK will now shift its focus to operational efficiency and strategic partnerships over its mammoth project. The company is looking for project partners to co-fund the next phase of development at Gurvantes XXXV, 50 kilometres from China’s Shivee Khuren border, to streamline logistics and enhance cost-effectiveness.
TMK Energy chief executive officer Dougal Ferguson said: “With the drilling operations phase now complete, there is no further major capital expenditure planned at the Pilot Well project in the short to medium term. With seven pilot production wells online, we hope and expect to soon see all the hard work and capital investment that has been made bearing fruit. All the data continues to point to a positive outcome being achieved in the coming months, with reservoir pressures continuing to reduce towards the target critical desorption pressure.”
Spanning a gargantuan 8400 square kilometres, Gurvantes XXXV hosts Mongolia’s largest 2C contingent resource of 1.2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and a prospective resource of 5300 billion cubic feet.
The project offers massive strategic value to Mongolia, as the largely coal-dominated country accelerates its transition to cleaner energy. TMK’s project is a central pillar to meeting the nation’s domestic demand.
The company is simultaneously tapping into northern China’s robust energy infrastructure. It recently entered a strategic alliance with Beijing-based J-Energy to enhance the project’s technical and logistical capabilities towards full commercialisation.
With all seven wells set to reach optimal production by the end of the month, TMK has cleared the final hurdle to demonstrate commercial viability at Gurvantes XXXV. It is now prioritising strategic, high-quality partnerships to establish itself as a dependable natural gas supplier for Mongolia’s domestic market and the region’s energy network.

Mongolia's foreign tourist arrivals surge over 20 pct in first 7 months www.xinhuanet.com

Tourist arrivals to Mongolia grew by 21.5 percent year-on-year in the first seven months of 2025, official data showed Wednesday.
Mongolia recorded a total of 457,158 inbound tourist visits by foreign passport holders in the period from January to July, according to the country's National Statistics Office (NSO).
During the period, China has remained the leading source of foreign tourists to Mongolia.
Currently, Mongolia's economy relies most heavily on the export of mineral resources. Tourism promotion is considered one of the priorities for diversifying the country's economy and increasing the competitiveness of its tourism in the context of global competition.
According to the Ministry of Culture, Sport, Tourism and Youth, the Mongolian government has decided to continue the "Years to Visit Mongolia" tourism program until 2028 to promote the development of four-season tourism in the country.
The country received a total of 727,400 foreign tourists in 2024, earning 1.6 billion U.S. dollars from the tourism sector.

Putin 'consulted shamans and mystics' about launching nukes that 'could start WW3' www.the-express.com

Vladimir Putin reportedly sought spiritual guidance from Mongolian shamans about the potential use of nuclear weapons, according to Russian sources.
The Russian president has been known for his "special attitude to mysticism" over the years, with rumors circulating in 2018 that he bathed in the blood of a Siberian red deer to boost his virility.
However, during his visit to Mongolia in early September last year, it's claimed that Putin took his mystical beliefs a step further, reports the Daily Star. 
Vladimir Putin facing demands for his arrest in Mongolia 
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He allegedly sought permission from the country's spirits to use nuclear weapons, fearing he might provoke their wrath if he did so without their blessing, as reported by Mail+.
In an article for the German news website Der Spiegel, Zygar wrote: "Mongolia and Tuva are considered the home of the most powerful shamans in the world. Vladimir Putin has long been known for his special attitude towards mysticism. And he apparently combines his interest in Orthodox mysticism with pagan traditions."
Mongolia is a member of the International Criminal Court, which issued an arrest warrant for Putin last year following his deportation of Ukrainian children.
Despite the warrant, Mongolian officials did not detain Putin during his visit, citing their heavy reliance on Russia as a reason for their inaction. Zygar suggested that Putin was willing to risk arrest to consult the spirits.
The Kremlin has dismissed recent allegations made by an opposition figure, stating: "The mentioned circumstances related to the Russian President's visit to Mongolia in September 2024 have no connection to reality."
By Tom McGhie, Brigid Brown

Global Connections: linking students in Connecticut and Mongolia www.peacecorps.gov

When David Stoloff, who hails from New York, joined the Peace Corps in 1973, he was sent to Zaire to serve as a teacher of science, math, and English. He ultimately spent two years there, teaching in various parts of the country. By the time he completed his Peace Corps service, the teaching bug was entrenched. He eventually moved to California as a doctoral student at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Eventually, he landed at Eastern Connecticut State University (Eastern), where he’s been a professor for the last 30 years.
Peace Corps service inspires ongoing intercultural connections
His Peace Corps service inspired him to continue promoting intercultural connections among universities. For his classes in international and cross-cultural education and global connections in education, he built connections with universities in over a dozen nations—from Algeria to Pakistan. He notes that given the available technology, it’s a surprise there aren’t more connections among universities, because it’s an easy way to introduce students to different cultures and to develop intercultural projects across borders. Enter the Peace Corps’ Global Connections Program.
Peace Corps’ Global Connections program
The Paul D. Coverdell World Wise Schools Global Connections program, a Peace Corps initiative that centers on the third goal of the Peace Corps—to increase Americans’ understanding of other peoples and cultures—links educators, camps, youth programs, and universities around the world with members of the Peace Corps network to promote knowledge and cultural exchange. Professor Stoloff submitted his students and himself for a Global Connections listing.
In his words, “I posted a request for intercultural connections among universities with the Global Connections program at Peace Corps in June 2024. John Luebke responded in September 2024 and introduced me to two professors, Enkhbayar Lkhagva and Bulgantsetseg Munkhbat, at the Mongolian National University. After email exchanges, Professor Enkhbayar organized a video conference to further discuss planning in December 2024.”
A match between Mongolia and Connecticut
John Luebke was serving as a Community Development and Education Volunteer in a town in the Uvurkhangai Province of Mongolia. During the early part of his service, Peace Corps/Mongolia staff mentioned the Global Connections program, and John thought that matching Mongolian students of English with students and teachers in the United States would be interesting. He notes that many Mongolian students who are practicing English want to learn more about American culture, daily life, and studying abroad. John rightfully anticipated that connecting Mongolian students with American students might be more impactful than an adult “telling the students what to do.” When John scrolled thorough the Global Connections listing, he saw David’s. Intrigued, John emailed David, who enthusiastically started generating ideas for the Global Connections match.
A seed of connection grows
John said that the Mongolian teachers who taught secondary English with him also wanted more knowledge and interaction about American culture, and that became the initial focus of the connection. However, due to limits on their time and class demands, the project eventually shifted to connecting university students in Mongolia and Connecticut. But the scope grew.
In John’s words: "Through connections with a geography teacher at my school, whose sister (Professor Enkhee) teaches at the Mongolian National University of Education (MNUE) in Ulaanbaatar, I connected professors Enkhee and Professor Bulgantsetseg 'Bulgaa' Munkhbat, who also taught at MNUE, with this possibility. Then a Zoom call with professors David, Enkhee, and Bulgaa ballooned into additional possibilities. It helped that Professors Enkhee and Bulgaa also graduated from the secondary school at which I co-teach, so we already had the familiarity to start building a global connection.”
Digital connections
In the fall of 2024, the two educators developed a Facebook group, and some Eastern students added introductions. During the spring 2025 semester, Eastern students created videos and uploaded them to a YouTube channel to share with their new Mongolian friends. After that, students from both nations continued to post introductions to the Facebook group website. Eastern students shared a list of email addresses to encourage individual connections.
For John, the biggest surprise about the connection was how surprised the Mongolian professors were at the additional time (often late into the evenings) they needed to coach and correct the students with their Tik Tok videos. Developing social media in this way was not common for their students, so everyone was learning. The students came from various schools within the university, so they were not all teachers-in-training.
David, for his part, was surprised about the interest the Mongolian students had in using Facebook as a communication medium, rather than communicating via email.
Professors team up to help program succeed
The two American professors developed a curriculum-based format and mapped out the timing and expectations of the virtual exchange. The Mongolian professors invested extra time developing the program to fit their curricula, and they needed to guide, correct and coach the students with their video projects, which initially were not fully developed. The Mongolian professors involved another professor and later suggested involving more professors so that each small group of students could be paired with a university professor for more program guidance. The Global Connections program was outside the standard curriculum for MNUE but, fortunately, these professors were able to convey the importance of the program to their universities and work to make it fit the curriculum.
Although the project was not always easy to manage due to the 12-hour time difference between the two groups of students, both American professors were impressed by the participants’ and fellow professor’s enthusiasm, curiosity, and ability to think outside of the box to make things happen. Both John and David noted that “once they started linking the Global Connections possibilities to their respective curricula, the Mongolian educators took the program and ran with it—including creating videos for the exchange that spanned a tour of the Chinggis Khaan National Museum in Ulaanbaatar, a video short on the daily life of a Mongolian student, a video on herding livestock in Mongolia, a day in the life of an Eastern State University commuting student, a survey of Connecticut foods, and a video about professional goals and interests.
Key learnings
When asked what they thought other Peace Corps Volunteers and Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) could get out of the Global Connections program, both David and John talked about all the positives.
John advised that “sometimes one needs to be spontaneous and just go with trying to make a program work, and sometimes one needs to carefully plan aspects of a program to match relevant, applicable, and interesting aspects within a curriculum. Finding the enthusiastic and realistic students and teachers/professors is key, and having those people involved will make the possibilities more joyful and interesting.”
David, as an RPCV, said that he learned more about the possibilities of how intercultural connections can widen the worldviews of both students and educators. He went on to say that “Eastern Connecticut State University students were impressed by the video and language skills of the Mongolian university students. They learned a lot about Mongolia and student life there. Using Facebook, the students are beginning to make personal connections and share their hopes for the future.” What a perfect example of the Peace Corps’ third goal in action.
Global connections into the future
John emphasized the huge potential in intercultural learning through the Global Connections program, and offered the idea that, especially in a university setting, the program must link easily to the curriculum. The benefits are clear though. John hopes that one day intercultural connections will be used regularly to connect students worldwide as they study English and other languages and learn the history and culture of other nations.

Efficient Use of Renewable Energy Resources Can Enable Regional Supply www.montsame.mn

The “Fourth Mongolia-South Korea Strategic Forum” took place at the State Palace on August 20, 2025.
First Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia Uchral Nyam-Osor delivered opening remarks, noting that, since establishing diplomatic relations in 1990, bilateral cooperation between Mongolia and the Republic of Korea has developed intensively, reaching the level of a Comprehensive Partnership through joint efforts. First Deputy PM highlighted the significance of the Forum in defining the directions of the bilateral strategic partnership and exploring new opportunities and resources for future cooperation.
First Deputy PM Uchral further elaborated, “Mongolia has abundant renewable energy resources. If its abundant sources of solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal energy are utilized efficiently, Mongolia has the potential not only to meet its own energy needs but also to supply energy to the broader region. Thus, the high technology, investment, and experiences of the Republic of Korea can make a valuable contribution to the future of Mongolia’s energy sector.
Furthermore, we need to join forces in efforts to combat climate change on a regional level. Implementing joint projects aimed at reducing carbon emissions and increasing reforestation, as well as sharing research findings on pollution, will not only contribute to environmental protection but also further strengthen the future relations and cooperation between the two countries.
This Strategic Forum is the beginning of a new step forward in bilateral cooperation. I am confident that the strategic partnership between Mongolia and South Korea in the areas of renewable energy, urban heating modernization, and environmental protection will continue to strengthen and expand, contributing to the creation of a healthy and sustainable environment for future generations.”
Held annually, this year’s edition of the Forum focuses on the themes of energy and ecological issues.
Executive Director of the Ban-Ki Moon Foundation for a Better Future, Mr. Kim Sook, stated in his interview, “Mongolia, with its vast lands, has abundant renewable energy resources, marking a potential to unlock many advantages. The development of renewable energy will contribute not only to the domestic power and energy sectors but also to the technology sector, particularly artificial intelligence. Many renewable energy experts work in the Republic of Korea. I am confident that at this Forum, we will set the foundation for incorporating our human resources into energy operations to reach tangible outcomes.”
 Advisor to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Mr. D. Amgalan, noted the Fourth Mongolia-South Korea Strategic Forum as one form of bilateral cooperation, and stated, “The renewable energy technologies currently in use in South Korea are highly applicable to Mongolia. In addition, the environmental and climate change research conducted by Korean experts closely aligns with Mongolia’s conditions, making their implementation both relevant and feasible in practice.”

Mongolia Wins 18 Medals at International Robotics Competition www.montsame.mn

Mongolian athletes achieved outstanding results at the “Robot Challenge” international robotics competition, held in Beijing, People’s Republic of China, from August 15 to 19, 2025, earning six gold, seven silver, and five bronze medals.
A Mongolian team consisting of over 100 participants competed in the tournament, including the Mongolian Robot Development Association, New Era, Mongol Temuulel, School No. 44 of Ulaanbaatar, Orkhon Empathy, and School No.2 of Khanbogd soum in Umnugobi aimag. Together, the team won a total of 18 medals, proudly uplifting Mongolia’s reputation on the world stage.
The competition featured 5,000 athletes from 42 countries. Participating for the fifth time since 2018, Mongolia’s national team secured its fourth victory in the “Robot Rugby” category, reaffirming its continued success.
Originally launched in Austria in 2004 and later hosted in China since 2017, the international robotics competition has expanded steadily over the years. Today, it stands as one of the world’s largest artificial intelligence robotics events, drawing participants from 82 countries.

PM: “SOEs Must Lead in Implementing the State Austerity Policy” www.montsame.mn

By the order of Prime Minister Zandanshatar Gombojav, the Government was instructed to eliminate inefficient expenses and optimize the structure and staffing of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and factories. The Prime Minister met with officials from the “Erdenes Mongol” Group and its subsidiaries to review the results of the official directive.
Chief Executive Officer of the “Erdenes Mongol” Group, Narantsogt Sanjaa, introduced its change and reform plans to increase revenues and reduce expenses in three phases.
“Erdenet Mining Corporation” SOE aims to surpass its revenues by MNT 208 billion, while other subsidiary companies aim for an outperformance of MNT 95 billion. While the sales incomes of “Shivee Ovoo” and “Baganuur” companies reduced by MNT 32 billion, “Erdenes Tavantolgoi” postponed investment activities worth MNT 199 billion, “Erdenet Mining Corporation” worth MNT 320 billion, and others worth MNT 36 billion. In addition, “Erdenes Tavantolgoi” is estimated to cut down operational costs by MNT 1.3 billion, and others by MNT 45 billion.
Prime Minister Zandanshatar noted, “Improving the quality, accessibility, and productivity of public services is the Government’s priority. The public criticizes the superfluous structure and poor productivity of state-involved and -owned enterprises. Approximately 38,000 of the 188,000 citizens who submitted suggestions for the 2026 State Budget Draft poll proposed to dismantle SOEs, cut down wasteful costs, and reduce bloated structures. The Government will acknowledge and consider citizens’ constructive criticism and suggestions in its work.
The Erdenes Mongol Group is obligated to implement the constitutional article on the fair distribution of benefits from natural resources to the people. You have the potential to generate benefits worth up to MNT 4 trillion, which the revenue increase plan for 2025 must not reduce below.” The Premier reminded that SOEs must lead in implementing the State Austerity Policy.
Furthermore, reminding that the “Erdenes Mongol” Group must increase exports and tax contributions to the State Budget in 2026 to enrich the National Sovereign Wealth Fund, the Premier highlighted the importance of planning and managing processing factories and procurement activities within the Group.

U.S. Government Reaffirms Commitment to Mongolia’s Water Security www.gogo.mn

In Mongolia, a Russian nuclear physicist was detained on a "pile of uranium waste" www.eadaily.com

Russian nuclear physicist Andrei Ozharovsky was detained in Mongolia by employees of the local migration service and the police. He announced this in his telegram channel.
According to Ozharovsky, he was "arrested" for measuring radioactivity on a mountain of old radioactive waste.…
"So. The Migration Service of Mongolia, with the support of the police and two plainclothes types, found me on a pile of radioactive waste (how did they find me? were you watching the phone?). They took away my passport, which, I believe, deprived me of my freedom, at least freedom of movement. I asked to explain the reason for the detention. They couldn't (didn't want to) do it… The Mongolian authorities are guarding the old Soviet radioactive waste — that's exactly what it looks like, it's sad. But there has been no rudeness or violence (yet)..." he writes in your telegram channel.
According to his TC, the scientist arrived in Mongolia at the invitation of local environmental activists who are fighting uranium mining. The incident occurred during a survey of abandoned uranium quarries in the area of the Mardai deposit.

New batch of Bayad breed sheep delivered to Uzbekistan from Mongolia www.gazeta.uz

A new batch of 1,000 Bayad sheep was delivered by air from Mongolia to Uzbekistan, the Veterinary Medicine and Livestock Development Committee announced.
The animals were brought in for further breeding in Navoi and Bukhara regions. According to the committee, a total of 100,000 sheep are planned to be brought in by the end of the year: 60 flights to deliver 50,000 head by the end of October, and another 50,000 head in November-December.
After the visit of the president of Uzbekistan to Mongolia in June, chairperson of the Veterinary Committee Bahrom Norqobilov also visited this country. During the talks, the sides agreed to reduce the export duty on sheep and goats from $18 to $7.
Besides, supply contracts were signed with Mongolian companies Jargalant Sheep, West Point and Marble Meat. More than 40 Uzbekistan farms will take part in these agreements.
The countries also agreed on cooperation between 27 Mongolian meat-processing enterprises and Uzbekistan’s entrepreneurs. Uzbekistan plans to triple meat imports from Mongolia by 2026 to reach 3,000 tonnes.
The purchase of Bayad sheep from Mongolia began in January 2024, with the aim of developing the halal meat export market. Studies showed that the Bayad breed adapts well to the climate of Navoi region and can provide higher productivity when crossed with local breeds. Earlier, 1,000 head were brought to Bukhara region for the Buxoro Qorakol Sur 2020 farm.
According to a presidential decree issued on 17 July, 100,000 small ruminants are to be imported in 2025−2026, and the total livestock population is to be increased to 1 million head by 2029 through selective breeding work. The decree also provides for compensation of 50% of air transport costs for livestock imports between August and December 2027.
Uzbekistan and Mongolia signed a joint declaration in June establishing a comprehensive partnership, along with other agreements including cooperation in agriculture and animal husbandry.
Earlier, the Ministry of Agriculture listed three factors driving up meat prices in Uzbekistan: slower global meat production, high demand in large importing countries and increasing feed and transport costs.
The Central Bank added that supply was limited due to export restrictions in neighboring countries and rising import prices. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan previously restricted livestock exports, while demand for meat imports are growing at record rates.