Mine Closure Mongolia 2016 Focuses on Social License

The 11th Mine Closure Mongolia forum was organized on September 7, under the theme of "Social License", at Blue Sky Tower, to discuss social license issues that mining companies encounter, present best practices, and to identify and discuss issues that are confronting mining companies.

Deputy Minister of Mining and Heavy Industry Kh.Badamsuren opened this year's forum and said, "Mine closure has always been understood as reclamation. Just as a mine has an opening day, a day will come when those mines will be closed. Discussing the importance of social license and of all sides coming to an agreement is a good thing."

The Deputy Minister highlighted that when closing mines, it is vital to account for all of the sectors involved in mining. In the next four years, the Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry plans to build petroleum, copper, and iron processing factories. The Ministry plans to set a market price for exported natural resources to prevent domestic mines from driving down prices in order to improve their competitiveness.

Head of the Mining Policy Department at the Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry I.Bold stated that a working group has been assigned with drafting an independent legal document on the closure of mines. Drafting this document will set a precedent for Mongolia to plan and execute the closure of mines in a manner meeting international standards. I.Bold underlined that the current legislation on mine closures is insufficient.

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