Mongolia's Energy Resources plans HK IPO -sources

* Energy Resources aims to raise up to $1 bln in Q4 - sources

* Citigroup and JP Morgan mandated as underwriters - sources

By Joseph Chaney and Kennix Chim

HONG KONG, July 13 - Mongolian coking coal company Energy Resources LLC aims to raise between $800 million and $1 billion in a Hong Kong initial public offering by as early as September, three sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

Energy Resources, whose Ukhaa Khudag mine is roughly 245 km from the Chinese border, will be the first company listed in Hong Kong to be fully based and operated in Mongolia.

The offering would be sponsored by Citigroup and JP Morgan , the sources said. All three sources declined to be named because they were not authorised to speak publicly about the matter.

Mongolia is attracting serious attention from global investors after sealing a deal in October with Ivanhoe Mines Ltd and Rio Tinto Ltd to develop the $3 billion Oyu Tolgoi mine, one of the world's biggest untapped copper and gold deposits.

Now, Mongolia's domestic companies are seeking foreign capital to help them expand, and the government is trying to connect local companies and its stock market with the rest of Asia -- from Hong Kong to Korea to Japan -- hoping to turn domestic franchises into regional ones.

Earlier this year, media reports said Energy Resources was seeking either a London or a Hong Kong IPO.

The company's peers in Hong Kong -- Mongolian Energy Corp <0276.HK> and SouthGobi Energy Resources <1878.HK> -- operate mines in Mongolia but are headquartered offshore in Hong Kong and Canada, respectively.

Hong Kong has long been a natural destination for emerging Mongolian champions, given its diversified investor base, proximity to mainland China, and China's hunger for Mongolia's copper, iron ore, gold and coal.

Citigroup and JP Morgan declined to comment.

Source:Reuters news service