Mongolia's Rare Earth Elements

Mongolia is rich in mineral resources, with more than 80 types of minerals, including copper, molybdenum, gold, silver, uranium, lead, iron and coal, and over 3,000 mineral deposits. Petroleum is mainly distributed in the areas of the South Gobi and East Gobi provinces. The Erdenet copper-molybdenum mine has been listed as one of the top ten copper-molybdenum mines in the world, with reserves ranking first in Asia (but due to over-mining, desertification has occurred).

Logging on to Wikipedia's Mongolian page, we can see the following description: "South Gobi Province is the southernmost province of Mongolia, bordering Bayan-Hongor Province to the northwest, and neighboring the Central Gobi and the previous Hangai provinces to the north, and the East Gobi Province to the east,"

and it borders the Alashan League and the Bayannao'er City of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in China. Its total area is about 165,400 square kilometers, with a population of 72,397 Mongolian citizens at the end of 2022, and an actual resident population of 73,939 people. The capital city is Dalanzadgad. This province is the largest in terms of area in Mongolia, with many deserts, vast land, and sparse population.

This province produces copper, coal, gold, and lead. In the Togtoh Tseviin district, there is the Tavan Tolgoi Coal Mine (TT), which exports to the Gansuqi Mooto border checkpoint in China. In the Gurvan特斯 district, there is the Nalinsuhait Mining Complex, which exports to the Cekel border checkpoint in China. In the Khangolg County, there is the Oyu Tolgoi Gold-Copper Mine (OT), and in the Khangolgor County, there is the world's largest unexploited rare earth mine.

However, "the world's largest unexploited rare earth mine in Khangolgor County" has never been confirmed by official media such as Mongolnews; also, authoritative statistical agencies abroad, such as Statista, have not included Mongolia among the countries rich in rare earth resources. In fact, the reserves of rare earth ore do not equate to the total amount of rare earth oxides.

Mongolnews, Ulaanbaatar, July 8th, reports that the "Mongolia Economic Forum-2025", themed "Working Together for a Brighter Tomorrow", opened today.

The forum, which has been held since 2010, aims to discuss pressing issues in Mongolia's economic and social development and to make solutions.

During this time, participants will focus on topics such as urban planning, urban economy, attracting international investment, new opportunities and risks, important minerals and supply chains.

Prime Minister of Mongolia, Zandanshatar, delivered the opening speech, introducing government policies, investments, and major projects to investors and the private sector, and outlined the work of short-term and medium-term plans and the goal of becoming an energy exporter within the next five years.

He said, "Mongolia plans to achieve economic diversification and double its GDP within the next 10 years. Mongolia's natural resource reserves rank among the top ten in the world, and its land area ranks 17th in the world. We are also a country rich in rare earth elements. In the future, we will support open, mutually beneficial, and trustworthy investments, and implement a sound mining policy. In addition to mining, the new government will pay particular attention to developing agriculture and animal husbandry, renewable energy, and tourism."

Economic Development Ministry Investment Policy Office Director B. Anar said that we are committed to attracting and protecting investments, creating a good business environment, promoting economic and export diversification. For example, we are currently conducting foreign trade negotiations with Japan and the Eurasian Economic Union to achieve economic diversification. The government's "100-Day Work Plan" includes submitting bills to improve the business environment, especially the investment environment. To this end, we are drafting a package of bills that will have a positive impact on the business environment, including the Investment Law, Public-Private Partnership Law, Chamber of Commerce Law, and green financing attraction bill."

Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1837094662481112/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.