Coal and Copper Industry of Southern Mongolia: Modern Development

The article is devoted to the analysis of the rapidly developing coal and copper industry of the Umnugovi aimag in southern Mongolia. The paper analyzes all coal and copper–gold ore deposits being developed in southern Mongolia, including Tavan Tolgoi and Oyu Tolgoi. Their institutional affiliation, geological reserves, methods and volumes of resource extraction are determined. The existing, under construction and planned coal processing plants and coal thermal power plants of the aimag are considered. The volume of coal and copper concentrate exported and their main importing country are determined. The routes of transportation of the extracted resources are disclosed: roads and border crossings, both existing and planned. The proportions of export routes are calculated. The problems of coal and copper industry of southern Mongolia are considered: water and power supply of mining and processing industries, transportation of extracted resources, organization of processing industries, relations of Mongolia with China. Prospects for overcoming limiting factors are outlined.