Coal
From Mongol Studies Online Reference
The Mongolian Coal Association claims more than 200 known coal deposits and occurrences within 12 coal basins in Mongolia. The abundance of coal in general, and the distribution of the coal in high concentration in many areas have attracted the interest of local, Russian, and Chinese government and private mining companies. Aside from this interest, Mongolia's coal resources have by and large escaped official international notice. For example, the coal section of BP's annual statistical survey does not register Mongolia at all. “The International Energy Agency's statistics section similarly fails to recognize the country, while it does not warrant a country report with the US Energy Information Administration, whose coal reserve statistics for Mongolia are blank. The country appears equally invisible in the statistics of the World Coal Institute” (reported 2006) [1]. This is changing, however, as of 2007, when Mongolian and South Korean officials initiated meetings to discuss agreements allowing South Korea access to Mongolian coal. The chief mine in question is the Tavan Tolgoi mine, 540 kilometers south of Ulaanbaatar [2].
The biggest hurdle to the development of Mongolian coal industry remains the fact that the country is landlocked between China and Russia. Though China’s demand continues to rise, Russian railroad infrastructure is not only fully tapped but in decline. This essentially limits Mongolia’s coal exportation to the two countries rather than through them to Western Europe or South East Asia, respectively [3].
[edit] References
- ↑ "Mongolian coal -- a Chinese captive". Coal Outlook. PLATTS.COM Product and Service Highlight. July 2008.
- ↑ "South Korea seeks Mongolian coal, other deposits". Mongolia Web. 14 May 2007. Accessed July 2008.
- ↑ "Mongolian coal -- a Chinese captive". Coal Outlook. PLATTS.COM Product and Service Highlight. July 2008.
