Mining conference raises legal concerns

Conference participants call for the revision of Mongolia’s mineral laws

On November 15, a conference on ‘The Minerals Law of Mongolia: Development and Tendency’ was held in cooperation with the Mongolian National Mining Association and Legal Environment of Mining Research Fund. Funded by World Bank, the conference, Initiated by the Office of the President of Mongolia,was held at Chinggis Khaan Hotel.

Over 200 participants, representing the Office of the President, Parliament Government, Ministries, agencies, provincial administration, as well as NGO’s, citizens’ movements, company, and researchers attended the conference and shared their views on the current state of the mining sector in Mongolia.

During the conference, many of the spokesmen and participants stressed the importance of revising the current Minerals Law of Mongolia, making it a complex set of Laws which covers ownership issues, geological and mining processes, environmental preservation, and stakeholder’s settlement issues.

Following development of the minerals sector, the legal environment for mining is an emergent sector as well. Thus, a number of participants emphasized the need for the establishment of an independent court designed to supervise the mining sector in Mongolia.

source: 'The Mongol Messenger' newspaper