ARCHIVED: Mining boom in Mongolia
With huge amounts of unexploited natural resources (gold, copper, coal and more) the Mongolian economy is estimated to grow massively in the years to come. But will it also benefit the people in Mongolia? Our work shows how mining operations lead to pollution and displacement for local herders and exacerbate water scarcity issues.
Father and daughter, resettled by Oyu Tolgoi
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Background
With huge amounts of unexploited natural resources (gold, copper, coal and more) the Mongolian economy is estimated to grow massively in the years to come. But will it also benefit the people in Mongolia? Our work shows how mining operations lead to pollution and displacement for local herders and exacerbate water scarcity issues.
Dust, displacement and intimidation in the Gobi Altai mountains
Nomadic herders in the Gobi Altai mountains are facing pollution and displacement by the Tayan Nuur iron ore mine that receives financing from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
While the mining company Altain Khuder responds to criticism with intimidation, the EBRD is not doing enough to protect herders’ rights.
Read more:
When the dust settles
A multimedia story about herders impacted by the Tayan Nuur mine
Dust, displacement, intimidation – Mongolian herders are under pressure by iron ore mine
Blog post | December 9, 2014
Report: Impacts of the Tayan Nuur iron ore mine on nomadic herders’ lives in Mongolia
Study | December 9, 2014
Case study on the impacts of the global iron ore sector: Altain Khuder in Mongolia
SOMO case study | December 17, 2014
Water scarcity in the South Gobi desert
In the South Gobi desert, the highly intensive mining industry with its immense need for water can pose precarious risks to the livelihoods of herders.
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Spirited away – Mongolia’s mining boom and the people that development left behind (pdf)
Study | January 30, 2012
EBRD financing for mining in Mongolia
By financing several mining projects over the last few years, the EBRD followed other investors’ bias towards the natural resources sector in Mongolia. Instead, it should diversify its portfolio in the country to help Mongolia reduce its dependency on commodity exports.
Read more:
The EBRD in Mongolia: Economic diversity is something else
Blog post | September 18, 2012
Online debate
Following a discussion in the European Parliament on the EBRD’s mining operations, Bankwatch organised a live-streamed google hangout with Mongolian campaigner Sukhgerel Dugersuren.
Latest news
EU green dream is a harsh reality for metal-rich countries
Bankwatch in the media | 24 March, 2021The tale of Mongolia’s Oyu Tolgoi copper mine highlights the potential toll on people and the environment in Central Asia from Europe’s rush for high-tech climate solutions. Source: EU green dream is a harsh reality for metal-rich countries
Read moreDer Widerstand gegen Bergbau-Großprojekte in der Mongolei: Zehntausende sind aktiv » LabourNet Germany
Bankwatch in the media | 5 March, 2021Wer hierzulande an die Mongolei denkt, denkt meistens in Schablonen-Mustern: Reitervolk, Dschengis (der große) Khan (dessen „Goldene Horde …
Read moreDoing the same thing and expecting different results: Mongolia plans to curb air pollution with more coal
Blog entry | 3 May, 2017A new law on air pollution recently adopted by the Mongolian government is in part the result of massive demonstrations against air pollution in the capital. The new policy, however, involves even more reliance on coal.
Read moreRelated publications
A useless sham – Review of the Oyu Tolgoi Copper and Gold Mine Environmental and Social Impact Assessment
Study | 14 December, 2012 | Download PDFThe potentially EBRD supported Oyu Tolgoi copper/gold mine in southern Mongolia project poses significant adverse social and environmental impacts. This in-dept review – based on our own research as well as that of expert reviewers – shows that the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) is a non-starter and deeply flawed. The study is complemented by detailed expert analyses in five annexes.
The EBRD’s new Mining Operations Policy: A commentary on consultation process and content
Briefing | 2 November, 2012 | Download PDFThe long awaited EBRD Mining Operations Policy was released last week without much noise. It has taken the EBRD more than 3 years to prepare a document which had raised hopes it could improve the bank’s activities in the mining sector. Most of these hopes, however, have not been fulfilled.
Money, and the EU’s climate agenda, to burn: EBRD mining strategy on a carbon collision course
Bankwatch Mail | 9 October, 2012 |With the EBRD due to sign off on its new mining strategy in November this year, 22 MEPs have pointed out in an open letter to European commissioners that given the state of the policy draft the bank risks contradicting the EU Resource Efficiency Roadmap and responsible mining principles. At risk of being compromised too, Bankwatch believes, are the EU’s 2020 strategy and EU commitments on climate change and biodiversity protection.
