Seven Mongolian truck drivers killed in South Gobi www.news.mn
Currently, over 8700 coal trucks from 104 enterprises are transporting coal on the 239 km road between the Tavan Tolgoi mine and the Gashuun Sukhait border crossing. Every day, between 400-1100 coal trucks enter China; the number depends on the speed of the border inspection at Gashuun Sukhait. However, queues from 20 to a record 140 km long queue of coal trucks have been occurring when capacity at the border is not able to meet the export demand. An unfortunate consequence of the queues has been dangerous driving by some of the truck drivers involving racing each other, speeding and using unauthorized roads.
In 2016, a total of 1596 accidents occurred involving the coal trucks: on road of coal transportation and five driver died in 2016; last year it decreased to 1000, however, seven drivers were killed.
On 18 April, the Mongolian Cabinet decided to establish the ‘Autostop Complex’ in the Khanbogs soum of the South Gobi, or Umnugobi, Province for dealing with the queue of coal trucks as well as caring for the health and safety of the drivers.
Published Date:2018-04-19