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Home > Projects > ARCHIVED: Mining boom in Mongolia

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
Water scarcity
European financing

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

A Mongolian woman looking into the camera. An overlaid quote says: "My winter camp looks nothing like a winter camp anymore."

A multimedia story about herders impacted by the Tayan Nuur mine


Also available in Polish

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.

Read more
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, 2021

The 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 more

Der Widerstand gegen Bergbau-Großprojekte in der Mongolei: Zehntausende sind aktiv » LabourNet Germany

Bankwatch in the media | 5 March, 2021

Wer hierzulande an die Mongolei denkt, denkt meistens in Schablonen-Mustern: Reitervolk, Dschengis (der große) Khan (dessen „Goldene Horde …

Read more

Doing the same thing and expecting different results: Mongolia plans to curb air pollution with more coal

Blog entry | 3 May, 2017

A 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 more

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Related publications

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.


Letter to DG Environment: Flaws in Environmental Impact Assessment of the Oyu Tolgoi mine in Mongolia

Advocacy letter | 25 September, 2012 | Download PDF

The 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 PDF

International 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


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