The Cabinet assigned corresponding Ministers to intensify the activities of Tsagaan Khad customs inspection area, and draft a proposal on management of coal export transport. Minister of Road and Transport Development J.Bat-Erdene was ordered to conduct an examination on entities engaging in coal transport.

Ministers D.Sumiyabazar and J.Bat-Erdene worked in Umnugobi aimag last weekend, and visited Gashuunsukhait border crossing to look over the situation of coal trucks. About 1,200-1,500 coal trucks passed the Gashuunsukhait border crossing daily until July 10, when the number was reduced to 500-600. As such, there is about 100-km-long logjam of coal trucks at the border crossing, regarding which the Ministers met with the drivers and local residents.

The Ministers also found that about 70 percent of 97 companies engaging in coal transport at the Gashuunsukhait border crossing have not established a labor contract with the drivers, excluding them from health, social and other insurances.

The road capacity at Gashuunsukhait border crossing is 65 tons per truck. Suggestions were made during the Ministers’ visit that the standard of 65 tons should be complied with as far as Tsagaan Khad border point, from where the the capacity should be increased to 100-110 tons until reaching Gants Mod border crossing. By doing so, volume of coal export can be increased by 40-50 percent even if only 500 trucks pass the border, said Minister D.Sumiyabazar.

As such, the Minister informed the press that the Cabinet will be taking steps to improve coal transport management including using a short-distance route through Tsagaan Khad border point starting from November 15. The Tsagaan Khad route will be used until March 1, 2018. In the mean time, the Government will hold negotiations with the Chinese side in the near future, he said.