Asia’s mining sector offsets risk with reward — report www.mining.com

Asia's mining sector continues to hold the greatest rewards globally, with positive business environments, rich mineral deposits, supportive infrastructure and political stability in countries holding the top positions in Fitch Solutions' Asia Mining Risk/Reward Index.

Thermal Power Plant commissioned in Bulgan aimag www.montsame.mn

Bulgan/MONTSAME/. A Thermal Power Plant, built by the state funding and ‘Energy Plus’ LLC, has commissioned today in Bulgan aimag.

7220 households to be connected with central heating system www.montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar/MONTSAME/. Today, Prime Minister U.Khurelsukh checked the ongoing process of infrastructure constructions in Bayankhoshuu ger area, Ulaanbaatar and gave assignments.

Education plays important role in boosting China-Mongolia friendship: ambassador www.globaltimes.cn

Education has been playing an important role in strengthening bilateral cooperation and friendship between China and Mongolia, Chinese Ambassador to Mongolia Xing Haiming said here Thursday. Xing made the remarks during the opening ceremony of the 7th Congress of Mongolian Teachers in the country's capital of Ulan Bator via video message.

Cardin, Sullivan Reintroduce Bill to Increase Trade with Democratic Ally Mongolia www.cardin.senate.gov

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) introduced legislation Thursday to improve U.S. trade relations and economic ties with Mongolia, a democratic nation bordering Russia and China that shares many of the same values and national security priorities as the United States. The Mongolia Third Neighbor Trade Act recognizes Mongolia’s success as a democracy, strategic location; sovereignty; territorial integrity; and ability to pursue an independent foreign policy from its neighbors are of high importance to America’s national security. Congressman Ted Yoho (R-Fla.) and Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-Nev.) have introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

Mongolia produces more than one-third of the world’s raw cashmere. Most of it is exported to China and the United States buys nearly all of its cashmere products from China. The Mongolia Third Neighbor Trade Act will allow for duty-free entry of Mongolian cashmere into the United States for items that do not compete directly with any U.S. products. A stronger bilateral trade relationship would benefit Mongolia and the United States by eliminating the shadow of unfair trade practices by China that likely have hampered the emergence of a Mongolian garment industry.

“Mongolia remains a stable democracy in a sea of authoritarianism, and contributes to U.S. national security goals in Asia and in the Middle East. The Mongolia Third Neighbor Trade Act will facilitate job and economic growth that can help both our countries. I am proud that this bipartisan legislation will make that possible,” said Senator Cardin. “Our bill also will help bring stability, employment and economic empowerment to the women of Mongolia who comprise most of the country’s garment industry.”

“Mongolia is an important friend and ally of the United States in a tenuous corner of the world,” said Senator Sullivan. “The Mongolia Third Neighbor Trade Act not only reaffirms the importance of this bilateral relationship, but also aims to enhance our ties and bolster industry in this growing democracy in the Indo-Pacific.”

Senators Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), David Perdue (R-Ga.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), as well as Representatives David Price (D-N.C.), James McGovern (D-Mass.), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Don Young (R-Alaska) and Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), are original cosponsors of this bill.

“The Mongolia Third-Neighbor Trade Act is not just about imports of cashmere; it is smart policy that supports a strong, independent Mongolia that continues to be a beacon of freedom in the region and a strategic partner of the United States,” said Congressman Ted Yoho. “It is estimated that this simple act will create upwards of 40,000 jobs primarily for women who make up ninety percent of the garment industry in Mongolia. We look forward to this strong bipartisan, bicameral legislation being passed under Speaker Pelosi’s leadership and signed into law by President Trump.”

“This legislation sends a signal that the United States must be a strong partner with Mongolia along its path of democratic and economic development,” said Congresswoman Dina Titus. “By diversifying Mongolia’s economy and boosting local employment opportunities – especially for women – we can help this nation overcome its unique challenges to building a thriving, independent economy.”

The legislation makes a number of findings, authorizes the President of the United States to allow for duty-free imports of Mongolian cashmere while protecting certain U.S.-made products, would allow for the sunset of the agreement after 5 years, and requires periodic progress reporting from the executive branch to Congress.

Mongolia to establish institute for Genghis Khan research www.xinhuanet.com

ULAN BATOR, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The government of Mongolia has decided to establish an independent institute for Genghis Khan research, local media reported Thursday, citing the government's press office.

Mongolia Mining 2019 features traditional mining www.zgm.mn

Mongolia Mining 2019 International Mining & Oil Expo opens for the 9th consecutive year under the theme Responsible Mining-Sustainable Development at the Buyant Ukhaa Sports Palace. The expo will continue until April 12, 2019. The expo aims at featuring traditional mining and emerging oil industries of Mongolia with exhibitors and visitors representing the industry's major companies and the largest number of professionals.

Xanadu Mines scoping study confirms potential of Kharmagtai Copper-Gold Project in Mongolia www.miningcapital.com

Xanadu Mines Ltd (ASX:XAM) has completed an open pit scoping study at the Kharmagtai Copper-Gold Project in Mongolia, which confirmed the viability of near-surface copper and gold mineralisation.

The study confirms the company’s strategy to explore for high-value large copper porphyry systems in the area.

It has identified opportunities for further upside from extending the life of the planned open pit mine, assessing higher-grade underground options and evaluating oxide gold potential near-surface at several locations.

Xanadu's managing director and CEO Andrew Stewart said the open pit study clearly demonstrated that the Kharmagtai Copper-Gold Project was one of the leading development assets globally today.

He said: “The scoping study indicates the potential to develop a low strip ratio open pit mining operation in an accelerated time frame, with rapid payback of the life-of-mine infrastructure for future open pit and underground mining operations.

“Whatever lens you look through, whether it is value, strip ratio, cost, mine life, production profile or scalability we believe Kharmagtai has the potential to be an outstanding project.

“The study identifies many opportunities for further upside that will improve project economics both from extending the life of the open pit mine and targeting the high-grade Stockwork Hill and Copper Hill underground resources which represent a clear and compelling path to value creation and the ability to expand into a larger resource.”

The scoping study focuses on three zones of mineralisation – the Stockwork Hill, White Hill and Copper Hill deposits on which the upgraded resource estimate for Kharmagtai was based.

The mineral resource is unchanged from October 31, 2018, and demonstrates the mineralisation is robust and continuous with over 22% of the resource classified in the indicated category.

Optimisation of the mineral resource block model was completed using the Lerch-Grossman algorithm within Midnight Software – the optimised pits were then scheduled and pit designs were applied resulting in four phases of mining at While Hill, two phases at Stockwork Hill and a single phase at Copper Hill.

The study recommends that mining begins at Copper Hill targeting high-grade material, while the pre-strip is initiated for the White Hill and Stock Work Hill areas.

When the pre-strip is complete mining will proceed in phases assessing mineralisation from all three deposits.

Additional drilling planned
Based on the results, the company will progress additional drilling at the project and proceed with more advanced mining studies.

Underground mining targeting the high-grade Stockwork Hill and Copper Hill deposits has not been considered in this study but represents a compelling path to further value creation and the ability to expand into a larger project within the current and any future mineral resource upgrade.

Stewart said: "Excellent oxide gold recoveries at Golden Eagle complement the existing copper-gold resources and represent the opportunity for a low cost, high-value gold leach operation which could be run early in the development life of Kharmagtai, injecting significant cash into the project to offset the cost of developing a large-scale copper-gold deposit.

"Whilst the current resource provides an excellent platform for the company to join the ranks of copper producers in the coming years, we believe that the exploration potential holds significant value for shareholders.

"We are excited with recent drilling below the Stockwork Hill deposit which has demonstrated the existence of a significant new zone of bornite gold-rich porphyry mineralisation along strike and at depth of the current open pit resource.

"In addition, we are having success with our mineral resource evaluation drilling at the new Zaara discovery and Golden Eagle oxide gold prospect.

"We are very confident that these results will provide the basis for a significant increase in the size and grade of the overall Kharmagtai deposit and have a positive impact on ongoing economic studies.”

Soldiers to contribute to Tavan Tolgoi railway construction www.montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar/MONTSAME/. At its regular meeting today, the Cabinet discussed a State Policy on railway and issued a resolution. The resolution states that constructions of a 414 km Tavantolgoi – Zuunbayan railroad and a 267km Tavantolgoi – Gashuunsukhait railroad will be funded with internal source.

Rental flats to be available for ownership www.montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar/MONTSAME/. Today’s Cabinet meeting approved a regulation on ownership of rental flats.