Government of Mongolia newly approved the Regulation on Mineral Extraction by Micro-Mining. This regulation pursues the two main objectives: increase local employment and give artisanal miners areas damaged by mining activities for use towards further reclamation.         

Ulaanbaatar, September 6, 2023 /MONTSAME/. Last year by its Decree No.296, the Government of Mongolia newly approved the Regulation on Mineral Extraction by Micro-Mining. This regulation pursues the two main objectives: increase local employment and give artisanal miners areas damaged by mining activities for use towards further reclamation.         

A joint consultation of the parties implementing the regulation on micro-mining was held yesterday in Ulaanbaatar to discuss the extent of implementation of the regulation, the problems faced by the parties implementing the regulation, and solutions thereof within the year since the approval of the regulation.

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Ecological Police Department, Khentiy, Selenge, Arkhangai, Uvurkhangai, Bayankhongor, Gobi-Altai, Uvs, Dundgobi aimags’ environmental inspectors and soum governors, where small scale mining is active, took part in the meeting, exchanged opinions on the implementation of the regulation and got a common understanding. The participants highlighted the effectiveness of supporting formal task units and improving accountability in the fight against illegal activities. They considered impossible to implement in practice the stipulation in the revised draft of the Law on Minerals to abolish micro-mining as a concept.  

The consultation was initiated by the Mongolian Union of Micro Mining and organized in cooperation with the “Building Capacity to Counter Illegal Mining” Project of the Asia Foundation. The proposals from the consultation will be compiled and submitted to the stakeholders as recommendations.