The Turquoise Hill Resources (TRQ), an investor of Oyu Tolgoi (OT) reported that the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine project which was planned to cost USD 1.3 billion in 2020, contracted its spending to USD 1.1 billion mainly due to COVID-19 outbreak. It has also deteriorated open-pit cost from USD 120 million to up to USD 80 million. Oyu Tolgoi project made over 94 percent of foreign direct investment of Mongolia in the first quarter of the year. Petromatad, which has discovered an oil field in the Tamsag basin, has cut its employees’ salaries, reducing the earnings of all directors and senior managers by an average of 50 percent and the salaries of professional consultants by up to 45 percent since the second quarter. In the future, it is possible to cut additional costs depending on market conditions. Additionally, Tsairt Mineral LLC, the main exporter of zinc, has postponed construction work at the open pit this year. As a result, the company said, the plant's supply could be disrupted. The company announced that preparations for an underground mine that will create about 200 jobs have been delayed. Coal companies have also cut their export plans this year. For example, Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi planned to sell 9.2 million tons of coal this year but reduced it by 30 percent to 6.2 million tons.

Published Date:2020-05-27