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
Letter to DG Environment: Flaws in Environmental Impact Assessment of the Oyu Tolgoi mine in Mongolia
Advocacy letter | 25 September, 2012 | Download PDFThe Environmental and Social Impact Asessment (ESIA) for the Oyu Tolgoi mine in Mongolia has been delayed for years and comes at a time when the commercial operations are soon to begin. By including only the construction phase of the mine, the impacts of its actual operations are neglected with potentially devastating impacts on water reserves in the Gobi desert – especially because the interrelation of the deep (fossil water) and shallow aquifers that are used by herders has not been thoroughly assessed and is based only on modelling and assumptions with no monitoring data publicly available.
EBRD investments in Mongolia’s mining sector
Briefing | 19 September, 2012 | Download PDFInternational mining companies and financial institutions want to help transform Mongolia into a modern mining nation. To realise this plan they are banking on the vast coal, copper and gold deposits in the Gobi desert. This paper examines the environmental and social risks connected to this approach and offers suggestions for the EBRD’s engagement in the country. Read more on our blog
Greens call for active efforts by European Commission to ensure an improved EBRD mining strategy
Advocacy letter | 12 July, 2012 | Download PDFThe letter by the Green members of the European Parliament calls for active efforts of the EU representative at the European Bank for Reconstructoin and Development to ensure that the bank’s new mining strategy endorses EU principles and standards for resource efficiency, biodiversity protection, poverty eradication, inclusive growth, transparency and public participation in the mining projects the EBRD supports.
