Mongolia

Mongolia is located in east and central Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and the People's Republic of China to the south, east and west.  Mining is significant to Mongolia's economy with minerals accounting for the majority of the country's exports.  According to the Mineral Resources Authority, Mongolia has geological coal resources of 163.2 billion tonnes in 300 deposits and occurrences.

Historically coal production in Mongolia has been mainly for domestic consumption.  Since 2004 export opportunities have increased with the discovery of high quality, coking coal deposits at Tavan Tolgoi, Ukhaa Khugag, Ovoot Tolgoi, Kushuut and Altai Nuurs.  Mongolia's proximity to China, which obtains approximately 70 percent of its energy needs from coal, has assisted in the development of the coal industry in Mongolia.

TPL’s initial focus is on potential coking coal projects in Western Mongolia, as the area offers opportunity for the size and type of project the company seeks as well as access to the rapidly expanding steel mill markets in the Chinese Provinces of Xinjang and Gansu which lie immediately south of the Mongolian border.

TPL is pursuing a two pronged strategy of evaluating and targeting potential high quality coal assets for acquisition in Mongolia.  The company is actively evaluating projects presented to the company as well as utilising a technical, GIS (geographical information system) driven targeting approach initially focused on the coking-quality thermal coal-rich basins in Western Mongolia.

Click on the images below to view larger versions:

Mark Gunther in front of Ger, Mongolia
Ovoot Tolgoi Coal Mine, Mongolia