Dec 31, 2024 74 min read Daily News Summaries

Mongolia News Summary for December 31, 2024

The following news articles are the opinions of their authors and publications. They are presented here as translations for informational purposes and do not necessarily represent the opinion of MongolBeat or its members.

Today's Stories

Politics

Five bribery and corruption cases forwarded to court by the prosecutor

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: isee.mn

The Prosecutor's Office monitored 44,734 registered cases and 1,106 investigation cases from December 23 to 27, 2024, and has filed charges in 231 criminal cases, forwarding them to court. To detail the charges filed: 96 cases were against crimes against personal health, 54 against property rights, 45 against road safety and vehicle regulations, 15 against the environment, 11 against sexual freedom and inviolability, 5 for bribery and official misconduct, 4 against the right to life, and 1 for money laundering. Some of the cases transferred to court include: - The City Prosecutor's Office has charged customs officers H.N and A.O at the Gashuunsukhait customs office of accepting bribes to facilitate the unobstructed passage of coal transport activities by certain enterprises through customs border inspection, under Article 22.4.2 (Accepting Bribes by Public Officials) and Article 22.5.1 (Giving Bribes) of the Criminal Law. These charges have been filed in the primary court of Khanbogd sum, Omnogovi aimag. - Officers from the Mongolian Border Protection Department, and customs officials in Ulaanbaatar and Gashuunsukhait allegedly accepted bribes to facilitate quick customs clearance and border crossings for coal transport by enterprises, in violation of Article 22.4.4 (Accepting Bribes by Public Officials) and Article 22.5.1 (Giving Bribes), with charges filed at the primary court of Khanbogd sum, Omnogovi aimag. - The Uvs aimag Prosecutor's Office has charged officials B.B, D.O, and B.N of the aimag's Emergency Services for abusing power by granting salaries to dismissed officials and creating advantageous conditions under Article 22.1.1 (Abuse of Authority and Official Position), with cases forwarded to the primary court of the sum. - From Bulgan aimag, land manager G.M was charged with abusing authority by issuing land ownership certificates without the necessary land possession orders, thereby providing undue advantage, under Article 22.1.1 (Abuse of Authority and Official Position). This case has also been forwarded to the primary court of the aimag. These actions by the prosecutor signify a crackdown on corrupt practices and reinforce legal accountability.

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Case of Fraud Involving Promises of Employment and Low-Cost Housing to be Reinvestigated

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: isee.mn

The case involving promises to "get someone into the Professional Inspection Agency" and "acquire properties seized by the Enforcement Agency at a low cost" while defrauding others and obtaining large sums of money is set to be reinvestigated. It has been reported that an accountant named Ch.M promised to arrange employment for victim N.D's child at the "Professional Inspection Agency," claiming funds were needed for the process, which included giving money to the individual facilitating the job, and fraudulently obtained 8 million tögrög. Additionally, another individual was deceived with claims of being able to acquire an apartment seized by the Enforcement Agency at a low cost through auction, with the involvement of police colonels, and was asked to transfer an initial amount of 3 million tögrög. Furthermore, misleading statements such as "there is an opportunity to buy a seized apartment from the Enforcement Agency at a low price," "properties are bought at half price," and "the apartment is about to go to auction" were used to convince victim N.Y to transfer 3 million tögrög under false pretenses. This case was processed by the Bayanzurkh District Prosecutor’s Office under Article 17.3, paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code, and an indictment was submitted to the court. However, the Bayanzurkh District Court of First Instance decided to return the case to the prosecutor for further investigation. The prosecutor disagreed with the court's decision and filed an appeal with the Criminal Appeals Court, which ultimately upheld the lower court's decision to return the case for additional investigation. In summary, the case involving the fraudulent claims of securing employment with the Professional Inspection Agency and acquiring seized properties from the Enforcement Agency at discounted prices is to be reinvestigated.

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The Politics of Uranium: A Hope for Effective Management

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: itoim.mn

As the project of the company Badrakh Energy began to be discussed positively, many calls have been made to establish a nuclear power plant. However, the issues of uranium mining and building a nuclear power plant are not directly related. When genuine opportunities arise to solve pressing problems, there is a tendency to discuss distant issues, which can be seen as a tactical move to mislead and derail the problem. Our "Forced" Project In the draft agreement with Orano Mining, there are many positive aspects. For the first time, the Government of Mongolia has presented its proposal, which is the most positive aspect. Essentially, the Mongolians have "imposed" their own conditions. It can be said that the article "The land, its subsoil, forests, water, animals, plants, and other natural resources belong to the people and are under state protection" of Article 6.1 of the Constitution is fully satisfied. The most significant achievement is the acceptance of the financial modeling. According to the financial modeling developed by us, 50+1 of the direct benefits will always accrue to Mongolia. The direct benefits include taxes like the excise tax (AMNAT). Excluded are various "benefits" such as employee salaries, focusing on direct benefits instead. The Longevity of Projects As the underground mining of the Oyu Tolgoi project begins, Mongolians are interested in "When will we receive dividends?" Mongolia holds 34% of the Oyu Tolgoi project. This 34% involved an investment of 2.3 billion USD which was funded by loans. However, with the debt being erased in 2022, it is planned that dividends will be received from 2032. If an agreement with Orano Mining is reached at the current pace, the construction of the Badrakh Energy uranium project will be completed in four years, and mining will begin in 2028, with Mongolians benefiting from it. It is stipulated in the draft resolution of the Parliament to replace the 34% ordinary shares with a 10% state-owned preferential share and a special payment for the utilization of mineral resources (AMNATT), to immediately enjoy the benefits of the project from the day of its implementation without waiting for the dividend distribution period. Radiation Control The issue in Ulaanbaatar of people protesting even before any information is given at the local level is radiation. In the draft agreement, both parties have agreed to have an evaluation team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) work every three years. Experts from the UN-affiliated IAEA will work on this. Additionally, the topic of water is a separate subject. It was agreed during negotiations that this would be determined by an environmental impact assessment appendix and documented on that basis. The wells in Ulaanbadrakh do not meet the drinking water standards. Therefore, one cannot simply rehabilitate to reach current standards; instead, determine the current situation through detailed environmental impact assessments and rehabilitate accordingly. What's Important to Us Following state ownership, public funds or taxpayers' money flows into the project by way of investment. If unable to finance, state shares inevitably decrease. To cope, loans are taken, various tax reductions and exemptions are granted, price cuts occur, and investment becomes ineffective, as seen in the Oyu Tolgoi project. For the government, stable revenue entering the budget is crucial. If revenue is too volatile due to market prices, it negatively affects monetary policy and investment. Therefore, instead of being enamored with shares that may invite additional investment risks and fluctuations, it is more appropriate to adhere to a policy of increasing the percentage of mining resource usage taxes. The Sad 34% In the agreement with Orano Mining, it is agreed that Mongolia will possess 10% of its 34% share without any financial liability. However, since that 10% is a preferential share, dividends will directly accrue under any circumstance. But an initial 500 million USD will be spent on the construction work within four years. Additionally, one billion 200 million USD more will be invested, totaling 1.6 billion USD. If the Government of Mongolia holds the 34%, it will need to provide 544 million USD. Orano Mining has accepted the proposal from the Mongolian side. After negotiating with foreign parties, if our "patriots" lie down refusing to accept, it will be problematic. They continue to exhaust the discussion of the lamentable 34%, not acknowledging the delays in receiving dividends due to loans and debts incurred for holding 34% of Oyu Tolgoi. Their fiery sentiments towards stopping third-party investments must be running fervently in the midwinter cold.

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Law Amendment Proposal Submitted to Parliament

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: montsame.mn

On December 27, 2024, Minister of Justice and Internal Affairs O. Altangerel, a member of the State Great Khural, submitted a draft law to amend and supplement the Criminal Procedure Law to the Chairman of the State Great Khural, D. Amarbaysgalan. Minister Altangerel explained that questioning a person as a witness and then arresting them, initiating a criminal case, and declaring them as a defendant, when there is clear and sufficient basis for suspecting them of a crime, contradicts the constitutional rights of "defense" and prohibits compelling self-incriminating testimony or using force. Thus, the regulation requires immediate suspension of the questioning as a witness if grounds for suspicion are established and questioning as a suspect should be conducted according to the law. Furthermore, due to instances in practice where questioning is conducted without a lawyer, leading to forced confessions and self-incriminating testimony, a legal mandate for lawyer participation in all stages of criminal proceedings where requested is recognized as necessary. The proposal includes provisions to ensure respect for individual inviolability, the right to legal defense, and access to legal assistance, stipulating that investigations cannot be conducted without a lawyer, and evidence obtained without a lawyer's presence is not to be considered. Additionally, it addresses the issue of unjustifiably delaying court hearings. He also indicated that once the law is adopted, the fundamental rights of inviolability, freedom, self-defense, and legal assistance enshrined in the Constitution of Mongolia will be further guaranteed. It is envisioned that the legal framework will be improved to prevent human rights violations during investigations, ensuring human rights and restoring violated rights, thus enhancing the efficacy of such work. This information was reported by the Parliament's Press Office.

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100 Days of L. Oyun-Erdene's Coalition Government

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: news.mn

The coalition government of MPP, DP, and HUN parties has reached the 100-day mark as the new year begins. Under the leadership of L. Oyun-Erdene, the coalition government has made progress over the past 100 days. IMPROVED CREDIT RATING, ECONOMIC GROWTH REACHES 5% After the pandemic, as global economies recovered, Mongolia's economy also experienced growth, with economic growth reaching 5% in 2024, foreign exchange reserves amounting to USD 5.1 billion, and export revenue reaching USD 16.1 billion. Coal, one of the main exports, reached 84 million tons, a historical record considering current extraction and infrastructure capacities. Imports totaled USD 11.2 billion worth of goods, external debt pressures decreased, and the national credit rating improved, marking a successful 100 days. EVERY CITIZEN RECEIVES A SAVINGS OF 135,000 TUGRIKS FROM THE WEALTH FUND According to Mongolia's Constitution, the benefits of underground resources are to be centralized in the National Wealth Fund and distributed equitably. The government submitted the National Wealth Fund law, which was approved by the Parliament on April 19, 2024. Under this law, 34% of strategic deposits and equivalent benefits are to be managed by citizens for education, health, and housing through non-cash means, with options to receive dividends in cash or deposit them in the Accumulation Fund, or donate to the Development Fund. Citizens can monitor benefits from each project via E-Mongolia. As of December 20, 2024, the Future Heritage Fund holds MNT 4 trillion, the Savings Fund holds MNT 495 billion, with each citizen having MNT 135,000 savings, and MNT 240 billion is centralized in the Development Fund. The 14 mega projects outlined in the government action plan are expected to bring the National Wealth Fund's Accumulation Fund to MNT 18-20 trillion by 2030. DECISION TO INCREASE SALARIES AND PENSIONS The government has issued a decree to increase the pensions from the Social Insurance Fund and military pensions by MNT 100,000. This decision raises the minimum full and military pension to MNT 650,000, and the minimum proportionally determined pension from the Social Insurance Fund to MNT 540,000. This decree will be enforced from the first of next month. The government of Mongolia has adjusted pensions from the Social Insurance Fund according to the cost of living changes for 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023. As a result, the average pension reaches MNT 685,600, a 2.2-fold increase compared to 2016. According to November 2023 data from the General Social Insurance Agency, 493,000 citizens receive pensions from the Social Insurance Fund, with around 59% or 288,400 pensioners receiving the minimum pension. The amount of social welfare pensions will be MNT 375,000 per month and carers' allowances will be MNT 302,500 per month from April 1, 2024. LONG-STALLED PROJECTS MOVE FORWARD Political parties in the coalition government have agreed on constitutional amendments ratified by the Parliament in 2023, establishing a new Parliament with 126 members through a mixed system. The Coalition Government adopted its "Brave Plan for Rapid Development" focusing on 14 mega projects, reaching 100 days. The Gashuunsukhait-Ganqmod railway project between the governments of Mongolia and China was prioritized. The Parliament is discussing the resolutions for the joint investment in the "Zuun Mutul" project with France. The Gashuunsukhait-Ganqmod border railway project will become the second rail border crossing to China since the Zamyn Uud-Ereen border crossing, filling an over 70-year gap and connecting further border points such as Shiveekhuren-Sekhe and Hang-Mandal, facilitating onwards economic developments. The long-discussed uranium project from the time of S. Bayar's government passed through parliament. During the state visit of the President of Mongolia to France in October 2023, a working group was formed between the Mongolian government and Orano Mining to draft an investment agreement. If implemented, the uranium investment project will be the second such agreement with a third neighbor country after the Oyu Tolgoi project, positively impacting Mongolia's investment environment. Unlike the Oyu Tolgoi project, this agreement proposes converting a 34% common share into a 10% preferred share, with the remaining 24% being settled through a special resource utilization payment, eliminating the risk of deferred dividends or additional debt, and providing immediate benefits to citizens through the Accumulation Fund once the project begins.

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Improving Legislation and Policy Implementation in the Energy Sector

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: montsame.mn

The working group tasked with revising the laws on Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and related energy sector legislation convened today to listen to an evaluation report on the implementation and outcomes of these laws. The working group is chaired by MP M. Enkhtsetseg and includes representatives from the Ministry of Energy, the Energy Regulatory Commission, the National Dispatch Center, Thermal Power Plants No. 3 and 4, the National Transmission Network, Ulaanbaatar Electricity Distribution Network, Ulaanbaatar Thermal Network, and state-owned joint-stock companies, as well as engineers and specialists. The evaluation report was presented by H. Erdenechuluun, the team leader of the executive group conducting the assessment. Since the law on Energy was enacted in 2001, a total of 15 amendments have changed 174 provisions, adding 56 new provisions and invalidating nine. Over the past 23 years, major amendments focused on provisions regulating the responsibilities of state bodies, special permits, pricing, and supplier-consumer relations. Mongolia's long and short-term development policies aim to self-supply energy from domestic sources, reduce greenhouse gases, increase carbon absorption, and achieve a capacity of 2660 MW through new sources and expansion, ultimately developing renewable energy and ensuring economic independence of the sector. However, currently, the connected capacity is only 246 MW. It was highlighted that a regional approach to introducing new energy sources under the energy reform is necessary. There is an inevitable necessity to improve the implementation of laws and policies enacted by the Parliament, strengthen monitoring, demand results, and establish a system of accountability. There is also a need to include and implement critical measures, set specific implementation timelines, and clarify responsible entities in developing and implementing policy documents for the growth of the energy sector and guaranteeing reliable and sustainable energy supply. The evaluation report noted that electricity and thermal prices have been set below actual costs, leading to losses for producers. Over the last five years, losses amounted to 806 billion MNT and 355 billion MNT in 2024 alone. Additionally, most of the main equipment in the energy system has been in use for over 30 years, indicating an aging infrastructure. The report emphasized the necessity of indexing electricity and thermal prices and adjusting them in line with inflation. The working group also reviewed findings from a study of foreign countries' energy laws and regulations. For further updates, follow @montsame.mn.

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Lawmakers Introduce Amendments to the Criminal Code

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar. On the 27th of this month, Members of Parliament Ch. Lodoisambuu, B. Bayarbaatar, D. Enkhtuya, and A. Ganbaatar submitted a bill to amend the Criminal Code to Speaker of the Parliament D. Amarbayasgalan. The proposed law intends to repeal Section 1 of Article 13.14 of the Criminal Code. In 2020, the Parliament added the crime of "spreading false information" to Article 13.14 of the Criminal Code. This crime is defined by its objective nature as "disseminating false information that harms the reputation" of others, which covers a broader scope compared to the crime of "defamation" in the 2002 Criminal Code. The amendment specifies the act of committing this crime through "public dissemination," but fails to fully define the subjective intent, such as whether the false information aims to "defame" or "discredit," leading to terminological and conceptual discrepancies, according to the lawmakers who initiated the bill. MP Ch. Lodoisambuu emphasized the necessity of adopting international standards in safeguarding the fundamental principle to freely express, critique, question, and voice opinions, particularly regarding public figures, politicians, and high-ranking government officials in Mongolia. Therefore, the adoption of this bill is expected to enhance the constitutional right to freedom of expression and press in Mongolia, as highlighted by the Parliament's Press Office.

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Ministers will have rules for attending sessions

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: news.mn

This Tuesday, the State Great Khural’s Ethics and Procedure Standing Committee is scheduled to meet. During this meeting, a resolution draft will be discussed to establish rules for members of the State Great Khural who have been appointed as the Prime Minister or government ministers to participate in the sessions. The issue of ensuring attendance, which has metaphorically tied a "bell to the ear" of the Speaker and members, continues to receive public criticism. Additionally, some members of parliament criticize the Prime Minister and government ministers for not attending parliamentary sessions related to discussed issues. Therefore, the Ethics and Procedure Standing Committee is addressing this matter by adopting rules for ministers to attend sessions.

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Economy

Loan of $450 million from India for Oil Refinery

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The Gogo team is working to provide information directly. The Minister of Industry, Ts. Tuvaan, provided the following information: - Let me introduce the progress of the 14 mega projects. Out of these, 3 projects have started. One. The financing agreement of the Erdeneburen Hydropower Plant has been signed with China, and the work continues. Two. The Parliament has discussed and approved the resolution for the agreement between the two governments regarding the Gantsmod-Gashuunsukhait border crossing railway connection. Three. The initial discussion of the investment agreement project with the French Orano Group has been reviewed by the standing committees of Parliament. The project will continue to be discussed next year. Four. The oil refinery is being constructed with a loan from India. This major construction project is divided into four parts. The first phase (EPC1) of the construction has been accepted by the state commission. As part of EPC4, an additional loan of $450 million will be taken from the country. The loan agreement will be ratified by Parliament next year. Five. The government meeting has discussed the copper smelter complex in the near term. According to the law on establishing an industrial technology park, the complex will be built near the Erdenet plant. A decision will be made on whether to establish a new LLC. China's "PetroChina Daqing Tamsag" company extracts oil. A tax dispute has arisen related to the product sharing agreement made with this company. It will be resolved quickly because the company will build a natural gas pipeline through our territory from Russia to China. Next year we will visit and meet with CNPC's management of China. The project to green Gobi is also included in the 14 mega projects. If the Tavan Tolgoi power plant is taken out of stagnation, it will create an opportunity to supply electricity to "Oyu Tolgoi" LLC. The following decisions made by the government meeting are presented. During the meeting: - A routine audit and inspection were conducted regarding whether the operations of the Development Bank comply with relevant laws and regulations. - Discussions were held about measures to be taken in connection with declaring 2025 as the year to support the development of the capital's infrastructure. - Issues related to the air pollution of the capital were discussed. - A project for a government resolution "On Revising the Cost of Ingredients for Food" (related to children's food costs) among other eight issues was discussed.

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US Dollar Rate Rises by 40 MNT in Three Days, Reaching 3490 MNT

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: isee.mn

At the "Naiman Sharga" currency exchange center, one US dollar is being bought for 3450 MNT and sold for 3490 MNT, according to today's rate. The US dollar rate, which was equivalent to 3440 MNT last Friday, has strengthened by 40 MNT in three days. According to the traders at this center, there is a shortage of dollars at the "Naiman Sharga" currency exchange center. This is due to commercial banks and individuals not selling US dollars, resulting in a shortage and contributing to the strengthening of the exchange rate. Currently, exchange rates for other foreign currencies, except for the US dollar, remain stable at the currency exchange center. For example, the yuan is equal to 474 MNT today. Traders are also indicating that the dollar rate may continue to rise, possibly reaching 3500 MNT.

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Taxes and Fees Increasing in Ulaanbaatar as of January 1, 2025

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: ikon.mn

From January 1, 2025, in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, the fees for public transport bus services as well as vehicle excise taxes and road usage charges will be increased. Public Transport Bus: - Citizens will pay 1,000 tugriks, allowing them four unlimited rides per day. - Students will pay 1,000 tugriks for transportation. - Children will pay 200 tugriks for a ride on public buses. - Elderly citizens can ride buses free of charge, regardless of their place of residence. According to a 2021 study, the actual cost to transport one passenger on public buses was calculated to be 1,300 tugriks per passenger, and it was decided to set the fee at 1,000 tugriks to narrow the gap. Vehicle Excise Tax: - Vehicles with an engine capacity up to 2,001 cc will pay tax based on 72 tugriks per cm3. - Vehicles with an engine capacity from 2,001 cc to 3,001 cc will pay 81 tugriks per cm3. - Vehicles with an engine capacity of 3,001 cc or more will pay 99 tugriks per cm3. Road Usage Charges: - Vehicles with an engine capacity up to 2,000 cc will pay an annual fee of 100,000 tugriks. - Vehicles with an engine capacity from 2,001 cc to 3,000 cc will pay an annual fee of 150,000 tugriks. - Vehicles with an engine capacity from 3,001 cc to 4,000 cc will pay an annual fee of 200,000 tugriks. - Vehicles with an engine capacity over 4,001 cc will pay an annual fee of 250,000 tugriks. By increasing the limits defined in the current auto transport and self-propelled vehicle tax law by 2 to 3 times, and increasing the road usage charges by 5 times from the current rates, the revenue for the City's Road Fund is expected to increase by 151.5 billion tugriks. Current Annual Excise Taxes for Automobiles and Self-Propelled Vehicles: Type of Vehicle - Maximum and Minimum Annual Excise Tax (in tugriks): - Two-wheeled motorcycles: 2,000 - 6,000 - Three-wheeled motorcycles: 1,500 - 9,000 - Passenger cars: - Up to 2001 cc - From 2001 to 3001 cc - 3001 cc and above - Microbus (up to 15 seats): 35,000 - 105,000 - Buses: 52,000 - 156,000 - Trucks (payload capacity per ton): 2,000 - 480,000 for various scales from 1 ton to more than 100 tons - Special purpose automobiles: 16,000 - 48,000 - Tractors and other self-propelled vehicles: 14,000 - 42,000 - Small tractors: 7,000 - 21,000 - Trailers (per ton): 5,500 - 16,500 - Electric vehicles: 0 - 100,000 Road Usage Fee Schedule: Classification of Vehicles - Fee (in tugriks, charged annually): - Passenger car, taxi: 30,000 - Other Vehicles (up to 2000 cc): 20,000 - From 2001 to 3000 cc: 30,000 - From 3001 to 4000 cc: 40,000 - Above 4001 cc: 50,000 Cargo vehicles (payload in tons): 40,000 - 70,000 depending on load range Special Vehicles, Tankers, Trailers, Mechanisms: Fees range from 30,000 to 60,000 depending on the type and capacity. Warning: Media outlets (television, radio, social and web pages) must mention their source (ikon.mn) if they use this information in any format.

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Sample of Tavantolgoi Factory's Fuel Being Tested in China, South Korea, and Japan

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Deputy Prime Minister S. Amarsaikhan presented the decision of the government meeting. He stated that a heightened state of readiness has been declared in the capital in connection with reducing air pollution. During this period from December 23-29, more than 2,500 emergency services, ecological police, and environmental specialists from the capital and districts worked to reduce harmful substances in the air, ensure the quality standards of improved fuel, and monitor the use of raw coal in 89,800 households and operations of 2,200 businesses. To check the standard quality of Tavantolgoi Fuel Company's fuel and to determine whether the fuel contains any substances harmful to human health, samples of the product are being sent for analysis to China, South Korea, and Japan by the decision of the head of the State Emergency Commission. The results are expected soon.

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Government: Enhanced Fuel is Being Tested in South Korea, Japan, and China - Results Expected Soon

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: itoim.mn

An extraordinary government meeting was held to discuss eight issues. Relevant ministers made announcements regarding the decisions made on these issues. The press conference was attended by Deputy Prime Minister S. Amarsaikhan, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Ts. Tuvaan, and Minister of Climate Change and Environment S. Odontuya. They provided information on the discussion about air pollution in the capital city. Deputy Prime Minister S. Amarsaikhan stated: "Over 2,500 city employees are monitoring air quality and ensuring the quality and standards of enhanced fuel, as well as controlling the use of raw coal. We are having the fuel from Tavantolgoi Fuel Company tested in foreign laboratories. Specifically, samples of the product are being sent for testing in South Korea, Japan, and China. The results are expected shortly." Minister of Climate Change and Environment S. Odontuya remarked: "The National Committee for Reducing Air Pollution met recently. At this meeting, they discussed the tasks to be completed in the near future and assigned responsibilities to the relevant ministers. In today's meeting, the fulfillment of these assignments was reported." "We are aiming to make a fundamental reform in addressing air pollution issues, focusing more on quality rather than quantity. This proposal was presented at the government meeting. Today, we were tasked with urgently resolving the issues of over 40 household enterprises that use raw coal." Additionally, instructions were given to the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources to address the issue of vehicles that contribute to over 20% of air pollution. Steps will be taken, including a transition to Euro 5 standard fuel and considerations on tax policies.

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Attention to Customers Making International Payments

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: isee.mn

As the end of the year approaches, the payment systems of partner banks will close effective December 30, 2024. Therefore, it is announced that foreign transactions in USD, CNY, KRW, HKD currencies should be transmitted by 16:00 on December 30, 2024. Transactions made after 16:00 on December 30, 2024, will be transferred to the recipient starting from January 2, 2025. Bogd Bank - Spreading Trust

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Businesses Receiving Financial Support Will Get Incentives in the Capital

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: montsame.mn

In connection with the approval of general regulations aimed at reducing air pollution in Ulaanbaatar city, today's Cabinet meeting tasked certain officials with taking appropriate measures. These regulations state that businesses which have made investments and provided financial support or donations in the territory of the capital will be given incentives. This includes: - Reducing congestion in Ulaanbaatar city and decreasing air pollution, - Increasing environmentally friendly heat and electricity sources, - Constructing neighborhoods with independent engineering solutions in the ger districts that meet the standards of energy-efficient, green, passive buildings and green financing, - Expanding the road network, - Releasing land based on essential social needs, - Building and establishing public roads, spaces, parks, and supporting the development of public transport. The common requirements for construction projects, operations, and activities eligible for tax incentives have been developed according to the model recommended by the Ministry of Finance, according to information from the GEPRC.

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Z. Narantuya: The Development Bank Aims to Finance Major Projects by 2025

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Together we write the new history of the Development Bank of Mongolia, and I extend the greetings of the forthcoming New Year's celebration to our esteemed clients who are always with us. In the past year, 2024, the team of the Development Bank of Mongolia has worked diligently to improve our governance, define our policy, goals, and objectives, and lay the foundation for the reform of our legal environment. As a policy institution established by the government to support Mongolia's sustainable development and economic growth, we are striving to create an independent and multi-pillared competitive economy, and to offer new export products and services to you. We wish for 2025 to be a year full of success and achievements, when our shared goals are realized and major national development projects commence implementation. Warning: Media outlets (Television, Radio, Social and Web pages) must mention the source (ikon.mn) when using our information in any form, both completely and partially.

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Diplomacy

South Korean Military Intelligence Agents Deported from Mongolia

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

Reports have surfaced in South Korea's press about the arrest and subsequent forced repatriation of the country's military intelligence officers from Mongolia late last month, drawing significant public attention. Two South Korean military intelligence officials were reportedly in Mongolia to establish connections with the North Korean Embassy in Ulaanbaatar when they were detained by Mongolian intelligence officers, as reported by South Korea's online news outlet 'N news'. Moreover, it was mentioned that a Mongolian government official was involved as an intermediary or local informant, and when meeting with them, the Mongolian intelligence agency gathered relevant documentation as evidence. These intelligence agents, who traveled using tourist visas, were in frequent contact with government officials without any clear purpose, prompting their arrest by Mongolian intelligence, according to the reports. When asked for confirmation from credible sources, it was stated, "It is true that such an incident occurred late last month. However, due to the involvement of highly confidential matters, we cannot disclose any information regarding this issue."

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C.Tuvaan: Now the Government Will Start Approving the Bilateral Agreement

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: itoim.mn

Last Friday, the State Great Khural (Parliament) of Mongolia approved the draft resolution "On the Main Directions to Follow in Concluding the Agreement on the Implementation of the Cross-Border Railway Construction at the Gashuunsukhait-Gantsmod Port between the Government of Mongolia and the Government of the People's Republic of China," as well as the draft resolution "On Replacing the State Share in Strategic Mineral Deposits." With this approval, Mongolia has secured the legal opportunity to bring the cross-border railway construction at the Gashuunsukhait-Gantsmod Port and its uranium project into economic circulation. Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene stated that with the Parliament's approval of the draft resolution, the construction work on the railway border connection will begin next spring. Now, the two governments will start working on signing the bilateral agreement. After the negotiations are concluded, the treaty will be submitted for parliamentary ratification. Following this, the tripartite agreement proposed by the Chinese side will be signed, said C. Tuvaan, the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, who is the head of the working group. He said, "Our mining product exports have reached their maximum capacity. Connecting the Gashuunsukhait-Gantsmod railway will increase coal exports through the Gashuunsukhait Port by 30 million tons. Now, we will begin the work to approve the bilateral agreement between the two governments. Since it is bilateral negotiations, it will take time. Once approved, it will be submitted for parliamentary ratification. Since we are selling the coal directly, it will increase our country's foreign exchange reserves. Additionally, there will be indirect and additional benefits," he said. Our country began exporting coal in 2004. That year, 16 million tons of coal were exported, generating $16 million in revenue. Over the past 20 years, 410 million tons of coal have been exported, producing $37.8 billion in revenue. Most of this, or 278 million tons of coal, was sold in the past eight years, generating $29.5 billion in revenue. Through the cross-border agreement for the Gashuunsukhait-Gantsmod Port, our country plans to export 270 million tons of coal over the next 16 years, earning $34 billion in revenue. However, during this time, the coal will not be sold at market prices but rather at the prices currently being sold to Chinese companies.

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Infrastructure

FACT: The Gashuunsukhait-Gantsmod Railway Project's Budgeted Cost is 979 Billion Tugriks and Will be Financed by "Erdenes Tavantolgoi"

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: isee.mn

Last week, the parliament supported and moved to final discussion the initiation of the first two projects of Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene's government, which comprises 14 major projects. Specifically, most parliament members backed the economic involvement of the long-stalled 16-year Gashuunsukhait-Gantsmod border railway connection construction project and the uranium project to be implemented in collaboration with France's "Orano Mining". In relation to implementing this project, the Chinese side and "China Energy Group", responsible for the railway development, proposed several specific conditions to Mongolia, including a stable legal environment, guaranteed conditions, long-term trade agreements, increasing the capacity of the coal mine, and the railway connection. - CHINA'S CHINA ENERGY COMPANY WILL MINE THE ONCHKHARAAT AND BORTOLGOI COAL DEPOSITS FOR 16 YEARS - It states that this project will be implemented between the governments of China and Mongolia at the highest level of comprehensive cooperation without the involvement of any third parties. It will not transfer the special mine licenses of "Erdenes Tavantolgoi" JSC to other parties in the cooperation to increase the mine capacity. Specifically, within the framework of this project, "China Energy" will mine the Onchkharaat and Bortolgoi deposits of our Tavantolgoi deposit for 16 years. In the first four years, from 2025 to 2029, a total of 27 million tons will be extracted, and from 2030 onwards, 20 million tons of coal per year. It has been specified not to transfer mining special licenses to other parties in connection with this. - Guaranteeing that there will be no further disputes over wide or narrow gauge when establishing the cross-border railway at the Gashuunsukhait-Gantsmod checkpoint. Specifically, the technical and economic feasibility study and design of the railway project have been completed, and the draft construction contract has been agreed upon at the company level. The Gantsmod cross-border railway will have a dual line with a 1520 mm wide gauge and a 1435 mm narrow gauge, capable of transporting 30 million tons of cargo annually by wide gauge and 10 million tons by narrow gauge over a total length of 19.5 km. With a technical construction period of 24 months, there is an urgent need to start construction and installation works immediately. - Adopting the principle of "One Design, One Contractor to Start and Finish Construction Simultaneously", and ensuring that the railway and its connection facilities are constructed by businesses selected by the Chinese side for the development project. Specifically, the Gashuunsukhait-Gantsmod railway project's estimated budget is 979 billion tugriks based on a detailed design, with financing issues resolved under Parliament's 2023 resolution 68, which assigns the responsibility to "Erdenes Tavantolgoi" JSC. The same resolution states in section 1, part 3, that the construction of the Gashuunsukhait-Gantsmod cross-border railway project should be implemented by a Chinese state-owned company, which is the infrastructure owner, up to the "Gants Mod" port within China's border and financed by "Erdenes Tavantolgoi" JSC. However, on February 29, 2024, the Chinese project contractor, infrastructure holder, and others gave notice to Mongolia's working team leader D. Amarbaysgalan that a new company was formed for the project, and rights of the infrastructure holder were handed over. - By opting out of the negotiations for constructing a railway with a narrow gauge, China incurred a loss of 13.97 billion yuan - Regarding this project, it was also recorded not to claim any future compensation for any losses or damage incurred by the Chinese side and any further investment related to the railway border connection. Specifically, "China Energy Group" requested to solve the "cross-border railway construction, coal trade, and coal mine capacity expansion cooperation" in a comprehensive way. The Chinese side stated they incurred a total loss of about 13.97 billion yuan, including 7.17 billion yuan for border railway investment, a 10-year loss of 2.7 billion yuan, and an additional necessary investment of 4.1 billion yuan. The plan addresses that China's side's losses and expenses related to this project will not be claimed in the future. An agreement has been reached to progressively initiate the railway connection work at the Mongolia-China border crossings of Shiveekhuren-Sekhee, Hangi-Mandal, and Bichigt-Zuunhatavch, and to benefit mutually on issues such as renewable energy export, exporting energy coal, deep processing of coal, water supply to the Gobi, combating dust storms and desertification, border connections, infrastructure development, and housing. Specifically, "Erdenes Tavantolgoi" JSC currently extracts an average of 30 million tonnes of coal annually. They noted that until the railway infrastructure and mining capacity is increased, they could supply 5-6 million tonnes of coal annually under the aforementioned agreement. Once the railway border connection is operational, Mongolia's total coal export is expected to reach about 120 million tonnes, with 20 million tonnes per year being supplied under an agreement between the two governments. The commencement of the Gashuunsukhait-Gantsmod cross-border railway construction has led to staged agreements to link border checkpoints with rail, including Shiveekhuren-Sekhee, Hangi-Mandal, and Bichigt-Zuunhatavch. The Chinese have consistently expressed their stance, as noted by their Foreign Minister on November 28, 2022, and the "Development and Reform Commission", prioritizing the completion of Gashuunsukhait-Gantsmod border railway before advancing other border linkage. - UTILIZING THE RAILWAY CONNECTION WILL RESULT IN ECONOMIC GROWTH INCREASING BY 0.8 PERCENTAGE POINTS ANNUALLY, REDUCING POVERTY, AND RAISING GDP PER CAPITA TO 10,000 DOLLARS - It was proposed to the parliament that the Chinese side proposed to conclude a 20-year long-term coal trade agreement, yet based on Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene's visit to China in October 2024, this period was shortened to 16 years. Upon the passage of the current parliamentary resolution draft, it is anticipated that the cross-border railway project and agreement at Gashuunsukhait-Gantsmod will enable the export freight tonnage at the border to exceed 30 million tons and the Tavantolgoi deposit coal export to grow to 70 million tons annually, increasing annual coal sales revenue by 1.5 billion dollars. Subsequently, economic growth is foreseen to elevate by 0.8 percentage points annually, alleviating poverty and increasing GDP per capita to 10,000 dollars, with a potential to sustain economic growth above 6% and maintain inflation at 5%, marking significant economic advantages projected by both parties.

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This Winter, 20,000 Households in Ulaanbaatar's Ger Districts to Be Connected to Gas Heating System

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The mayor of Ulaanbaatar, H. Nyambaatar, presented a short-term plan to reduce air pollution at last Wednesday's government meeting. He stated that several projects will be implemented next year to reduce air, soil, and water pollution, and traffic congestion in Ulaanbaatar. The first step next year is to connect 20,000 households to the gas heating network and prepare gas sources. Additionally, a legal environment will be established to designate chimney-free zones. Gas and kerosene stoves will be introduced to households within these zones. For other households, fuel will be changed, and double-combustion stoves are planned to be distributed. In Ulaanbaatar, 56% of air pollution comes from the smoke of 198,000 chimneys in ger districts, while 30% is from the exhaust of 800,000 registered and 500-600,000 daily active vehicles, with the remaining 15-16% generated by steam boilers and major power plants. We have presented the government's short-term action plan to address each of these sources over one year. Specifically, public transport buses will be converted to gas and electric engines. Vehicles that cause more pollution than acceptable levels will not be allowed to operate. 170 steam boilers will be transitioned to gas sources gradually each year. The financial resources required for these projects are planned to be covered by a 1% tax reduction for businesses and the city's funds, as informed.

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B.Chagnaadooj: We Have Taken an Important Step in Implementing the Mega Project of the Steel Plant

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Greetings to the citizens of Mongolia and all employees in the mining and heavy industry sectors on the occasion of the New Year. The team at Darkhan Metallurgical Plant is wrapping up the year 2024 with considerable success in work and is preparing for the year 2025 with goals, objectives, and a large-scale development plan. Last year, our team produced 34.9 thousand tons of rolled steel products, of which 25.9 thousand tons were sold, generating 85.1 billion MNT in revenue. Meanwhile, in mining production, 2.1 million tons of iron ore concentrate were produced, of which 1.1 million tons were exported, earning 207.1 billion MNT in revenue, bringing the total revenue to 292.2 billion MNT. In 2024, Darkhan Metallurgical Plant LLC contributed 54.7 billion MNT to the national budget, of which 31.5 billion MNT was allocated to the budget of Darkhan-Uul province, and 13.6 billion MNT was contributed to the National Wealth Fund. This meets the target performance level approved and implemented by Erdenes Mongol union. By intensifying market sales and increasing transportation turnover, the company's management and management team tripled export transportation capacity in the second half of the year and thereby managed to increase the net profit by 9.4 billion MNT. This is an important step in implementing the projects and programs to build the Steel Plant. In the preparatory phase of the "Darkhan UTP" project, one of the 14 mega projects to be implemented by the government, we worked to increase the reserves of Tumurtei deposit, a strategic deposit, and aimed to supply raw materials for the Steel Manufacturing Complex project as well as the existing steel production, and to bring the reserves into economic circulation. In the upcoming year 2025, may our targeted work and the great deeds of historical construction be full of success and achievements, and we extend our best wishes for the further development of the steel production sector in Mongolia.

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Ts.Tuvaan: The Contract for Building the Gashuun Sukhait-Gantsmod Border Railway Will Be Officially Approved in the Autumn Session

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: itoim.mn

An extraordinary meeting of the Government was held, where eight issues were discussed. The relevant ministers provided information on the decisions made. The press conference was attended by Deputy Prime Minister S. Amarsaikhan, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Ts. Tuvaan, and Minister of Climate Change and Environment S. Odontuya. Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Ts. Tuvaan reported that out of the 14 mega projects announced for implementation by the Government, three are in the implementation stage. 1. The financing agreement for the Erdeneburen hydropower plant has been resolved. 2. The issue of entering into negotiations for the Gashuun Sukhait-Gantsmod border railway has been directed by the Parliament. 3. The investment agreement for uranium with the French Government is being discussed. The issue of establishing a copper smelting plant was brought up in the Government meeting. It is currently at the tendering stage. Additionally, the issue of the gas pipeline is being discussed at a high level. Next year, this issue will be discussed at the level of three countries. Furthermore, there are discussions ongoing about irrigating the Gobi region. The issue of the Tavan Tolgoi power plant will be resolved from its standstill. Building this plant will enable the Oyu Tolgoi mine to be supplied with energy. These projects are progressing very rapidly. It was emphasized that work is underway to officially approve the contract for building the Gashuun Sukhait-Gantsmod border railway in the autumn session.

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The Prime Minister tasked with focusing on the implementation of the next mega projects

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: montsame.mn

An extraordinary meeting of the government was held today, during which the Prime Minister, Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene, instructed to focus on the implementation of the next mega projects. Since the adoption of the joint government's action program, the performance of the Mongolian Prime Minister's official duties has been assessed over 100 days. During this period, the government has prioritized the Gashuun Sukhait-Gants Mod railway between Mongolia and the People's Republic of China, the draft investment agreement for the "Zuuvch Ovoo" project to be implemented in cooperation with Mongolia and France, and the Erdeneburen Hydropower Plant project, according to Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Tuvdendorj Magnai. The Prime Minister's official directive has been issued to focus on the implementation of the following projects: the Oil Refinery Complex, Copper Processing, Coal-Chemistry and Coke-Chemistry Complexes, the Steel Factory, the Tavantolgoi Thermal Power Plant, the Gobi Watering Project, and the Fourth Campaign of Agriculture. Additionally, 2025 has been announced as the "Year of Addressing the Ulaanbaatar City's Critical Issues and Accelerating Construction". Within this framework, priority will be given to implementing the Bogd Khan Mountain tunnel, the Tuul Highway, and the cable-stayed bridge project, as reported by the Government Press Office.

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Increasing Iron Ore Exports Is a Key Step Towards Implementing Steel Plant Projects

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Darkhan Metallurgical Plant, a state-owned company, produces 30,000 tons of steel rolled products and 2.5 million tons of iron ore concentrate annually for domestic and foreign markets. In 2024, the company produced 34,900 tons of rolled steel products, selling 25,900 tons and generating 85.1 billion tugriks in revenue. In mining production, out of 2.1 million tons of iron ore concentrate produced, 1.1 million tons were exported, resulting in revenues of 207.1 billion tugriks, with a total revenue of 292.2 billion tugriks. "Darkhan Metallurgical Plant" LLC contributed 54.7 billion tugriks to the state budget in 2024, including 31.5 billion tugriks to the budget of Darkhan-Uul aimag, and 13.6 billion tugriks to the National Wealth Fund. This fulfilled the target levels set by Erdenes Mongol LLC, and net profit indicators increased by 24 percent compared to the previous year. The company's management team increased their exchange sales and boosted transport circulation, tripling export transportation in the second half of the year, leading to a real profit increase of 9.4 billion. Furthermore, in preparation for the "Darkhan UTP" project, one of the 14 mega projects implemented by the government, they are increasing the reserve of the strategic Tumurtein mine and focusing on integrating the existing steel production with raw materials and bringing available deposits into economic circulation. The company's team is also working to enhance export transport circulation and activate exchange trading to secure funding for the initial stages of the steel plant mega project outlined in the Mongolian government's action program. Presently, "Darkhan Metallurgical Plant" LLC employs 1,490 people across 36 units, with 88 percent being local employees. Operating for its 31st year, the plant planted 74,000 trees under the Billion Tree Program in 2024 and conducted ecological rehabilitation on 12.6 hectares, with a compensatory protection of 60 hectares. The company operates sustainably and transparently, engaging the public with continuous operations totaling 4.4 million person/hours. Notice: Media organizations (Television, Radio, Social, and Web pages) must acknowledge the source (ikon.mn) when using our information wholly or partially, in any form.

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Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene Instructs to Focus on Implementation of Upcoming Mega Projects

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: news.mn

The Cabinet held an extraordinary meeting to discuss and resolve several issues. Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene instructed to focus on the implementation of upcoming mega projects. After the approval of the joint government's operational program, the implementation of the Prime Minister's directives was reviewed at the 100th day mark. During this period, the government prioritized 14 mega projects, including the Gashuunsukhait-Gantsmod railway between Mongolia and China, the investment agreement draft for the "Zuunbayan Uul" project in collaboration with France, and the implementation stage for the Erdeneburen hydropower plant project, as reported by the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Ts. Tuvaan. The Prime Minister issued directives to focus on the implementation of upcoming projects. These include the oil refinery complex, a copper refinery, coal-chemical, coke-chemical complexes, a steel plant, the Tavantolgoi thermal power plant, the Gobi water supply project, and the implementation of the Fourth Agricultural Reclamation Campaign. Furthermore, 2025 has been declared as "The Year to Solve the Capital City's Urgent Issues and Accelerate Development." Within this framework, projects like the Bogd Khan Mountain tunnel, Tuul Highway, and the steel cable bridge have been prioritized for implementation. In relation to the elevation of the state's administrative body's preparedness level, ministers will work during holidays and weekends. The first meeting of the National Committee on Air Pollution Reduction was held on the 24th of this month, where the working regulations of the committee and the urgent work plan draft for the national committee were discussed, with input from relevant ministries being organized. Instructions were also given to member organizations of the national committee regarding this matter, and the next meeting is scheduled for the first week of 2025. Due to the increase in pollutants in the air of the capital city, Ulaanbaatar, exceeding permissible limits as per standards, posing significant threats to public health and the environment, all administrative units and local government bodies within the city have been placed at an elevated preparedness level from December 20 to March 1. With this context, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and Chair of the National Committee on Air Pollution Reduction, S. Odontuya, along with Deputy Prime Minister and Chair of the National Emergency Commission, S. Amarsaikhan, provided a briefing on current measures being implemented. An emergency headquarters has been established under the Prime Minister to promptly share information and make decisions regarding air pollution and related issues, including reducing smoke and improving fuel quality. Every Cabinet meeting will receive a briefing on the measures being implemented. Additionally, due to the elevated preparedness level for governance and local administrative units, the Prime Minister instructed Cabinet members to remain on duty during holidays. The national committee on air pollution reduction plans to organize a series of discussions involving scientific advisory council solutions, improvements to quality of improved briquettes, technological updates, reduction of automotive impact on air quality, the Euro-5 fuel standard, and insulation solutions for pressing issues. "Tavan Tolgoi Tulsh" LLC is set to conduct tests to improve the quality of produced briquettes and the experimental samples will be analyzed by accredited laboratories abroad. Boundaries for regions without chimneys will be defined, and plans for infrastructural preparations will commence promptly, outlining household maps for gas and dual-combustion stove integration. As schools start their breaks, guidelines and precautions will be disseminated to reduce heat loss from homes and buildings while adhering to electricity and combustion regulations, and not turning off carbon monoxide detectors. As part of examining causes for increased air pollution compared to 2019-2020 measurements, analysis of briquette binder, middlings, and other related studies will be conducted to draw conclusions. A draft law on reducing air pollution in Ulaanbaatar is being developed for enactment soon. Tax exemptions will be granted to businesses that have made investments or financial contributions towards solving pressing issues and reducing air pollution within the territory of Ulaanbaatar. Projects and activities eligible for tax exemptions and aimed at reducing air pollution and addressing acute issues are detailed in a newly approved procedure. This includes reducing the concentration in central Ulaanbaatar and curbing air pollution, increasing eco-friendly heat and power sources, building neighborhoods in ger areas with green and energy-efficient structures meeting passive building standards and green financing requirements, expanding the road network, land clearance based on urgent social needs, and constructing public-use roads, parks, and supporting public transport development. The Ministry of Finance has drafted a model recommending common requirements for exempted projects and activities.

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Approved the Agreement to Develop and Upgrade "TPS-3"

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

At the beginning of the regular session of the State Great Khural, projects related to the development and support of the city of Kharkhorum, along with other jointly submitted laws and resolutions, were discussed. According to Minister of Mongolia N. Uchral, the development of the city of Kharkhorum is planned to be carried out through a public-private partnership, with the infrastructure costs to be covered by the state and local budgets, as well as financing from international and domestic organizations. In connection to this work, MP J. Bayarmaa expressed the position that comprehensive archaeological and anthropological research should be conducted in the Orkhon Valley. In response, the working group members stated that the location for establishing the city will be chosen without overlapping with sites inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list and has been acquired for special government use. The preliminary feasibility study for the city has been prepared, estimating a requirement of 26.4 billion USD in investment. Furthermore, countries such as Australia, the Arab states, Bulgaria, Turkey, South Korea, and China have expressed proposals to collaborate on projects to restore historical and archaeological findings, and to develop the new city’s energy, engineering infrastructure, green spaces, and housing projects. Since 69.2% of the members supported discussing the draft laws and resolutions related to this work within the framework of their conceptual approach, the projects have been transferred to the standing committee in charge to prepare for the first reading. During this day's session, the State Great Khural also approved several legislative and resolution proposals that are crucial in advancing infrastructure and construction works. Specifically, this includes the draft resolution on the main principles to guide the establishment of an agreement between the governments of Mongolia and the People's Republic of China for the implementation of the cross-border railway development project at the Gashuunsukhait-Gantsmod port, the law approving the agreement between the governments of Mongolia and Russia to develop the design for the expansion and modernization project of the Third Thermal Power Plant of Ulaanbaatar, as well as the law recognizing the amendments and changes to the agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. These proposals were passed with the majority of the votes of the session participants.

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Baganuur Battery Storage Plant Can Supply Electricity to Five Provinces

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The battery storage plant, located in the territory of the first district of Baganuur, has a capacity of 50 MW and a storage capacity of 200 MWh. It has started supplying electricity to the central region's unified system from the 5th of this month. As of today, the plant has delivered 4776 MWh of electricity to the central system. This allows an average of 25,000 households per day to avoid electricity restrictions during peak load times. This means that it is supplying enough electricity to meet the needs of five provinces, according to the city administration. The plant has begun supplying electricity to the central region's unified system since the 5th of this month. Today, the plant has provided 4776 MWh of electricity to the central system. This prevents an average of 25,000 households per day from experiencing electricity limitations during peak load periods. In other words, it supplies enough electricity to meet the demand of five provinces, as reported by the city administration.

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Power Station at Booroljuut Connects to Central System

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: isee.mn

Ulaanbaatar city has for the first time issued bonds worth 500 billion MNT on the domestic market, investing 300 billion MNT from these bonds into the Booroljuut power station. Accordingly, the first 150 MW capacity station of the Booroljuut power station project, which started in 2011, was commissioned last October. However, on November 17, a fire accident occurred in section C6 of the coal conveyor belt at the station, temporarily delaying the power supply to the central system. Experts promptly reviewed and repaired the damage caused by the accident, and by 23:33 on the night of the 26th of this month, the station was connected to the central energy network and began supplying 150 MW of electricity. In addition to supplying power to the unified system, the 50 MW battery storage station in Baganuur has been supplying energy to the central system since December 13. Experts have stated that Ulaanbaatar's energy system will not have further restrictions. Concerning the new power stations supplying energy to the central system, city mayor Kh. Nyambaatar stated, "We had set a major goal to increase Ulaanbaatar’s energy by 200 MW in 2024. We achieved this goal within a year. We started the test firing of the 150 MW Booroljuut power station at 09:00 on the 25th of this month, with plans to supply energy to the central power system by the 29th of this month at the latest. However, we were able to supply energy to the integrated system ahead of the planned time. Thus, we can ensure there will be no electricity restrictions during peak winter loads. Also, the 50 MW battery storage station in Baganuur started supplying energy to the central system on December 13. This station is notable for its energy-efficient mode, storing excess energy produced at night and sharing the load during peak hours." To supply energy from the Booroljuut power station to the central system, coal was transported temporarily to fire the boilers, and after completing the wash of the air cooler condenser system, all necessary measurements, settings, and tests were conducted on the boiler, turbine, generator, and other auxiliary equipment according to the technological regime and program. Moreover, the Booroljuut power station, which is being constructed in phases based on the Booroljuut brown coal deposit in the Bayanjaralan soum of Tuv aimag, is planned to have a total of four blocks with a capacity of 600 MW. While the first block has started supplying energy to the central system, the second block of the Booroljuut power station is scheduled to start operations in 2025. When operating at full capacity, the two-block 300 MW power station will be able to produce up to 2.1 billion kWh of electricity per year.
Public Relations Department, UBDG

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Traffic changes for Sun Bridge from January 6

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: itoim.mn

Information on changes to the traffic direction at the Sun Bridge intersection has been presented. Two new bridges are planned to be built near the Altai residential area to reduce traffic congestion. As a result, the current traffic arrangement at the Sun Bridge intersection will be changed. This change will be implemented from January 6, 2025. The Traffic Management Center explains these changes as follows: - The turnaround movement from the north side of the White Gate intersection will be restricted. - The turnaround and left-turn movements from the intersection of the Mechanical Engineering School will be restricted. Vehicles heading north from the Sun Bridge towards the city center will follow these new movements: Vehicles coming out of the Altai residential area will take a left turn and go via the Tuushin intersection to the intersection in front of the Dema Hospital. From the east intersection of the Dema Hospital, take a right turn to the "World Wine" intersection. From this intersection, turn left to the currently contraflow intersection. After circling north, go straight through the Sun Khoro residential exit. Residents coming out of the Sun Khoro residential area should turn left and head to the southeastern part of the Sun Bridge and then turn around to travel towards the city center. The two bridges on Dund Gol Street in front of the Sun Khoro residential area and the section from the southeastern intersection of the Sun Bridge to the right of the UG Arena intersection will become one-way traffic. The southeastern bridge of the Sun Khoro residential area will have one-way traffic from south to north. The front bridge will have one-way traffic from north to south. Due to traffic arrangement changes, there will be a change in public transport direction on route Ch:61, known as "Power Plant III to Officer's Palace." Previously, the buses on this route used to turn right from the east of the Mechanical Engineering School. However, starting January 6, they will travel straight through the intersection of the Mechanical Transportation School. The Traffic Management Center highlighted that these changes to the traffic on the Sun Bridge aim to reduce complaints from citizens and will decrease the police coordination requirements at the relevant intersections by threefold. In Mongolia, approximately 1.2 million vehicles are registered. About 804,000 of these are registered in Ulaanbaatar city. On average, 480,000 to 500,000 vehicles participate in the city's daily traffic. The main traffic congestion times are from 07:00 to 09:00 in the morning and from 16:00 to 21:00 in the evening.

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No Power Outages from Today

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The power generated by the Bоrоljuut power plant has started being supplied to the central power system. As a result, officials have reported that there will be no power outages in the capital. The Minister of Energy, B. Choijilsuren, will visit the plant tomorrow.

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Society

Summary of 2024: 5 Notable Events in Mongolia

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: news.mn

"NEWS" Agency is identifying five notable events that took place in Mongolia in the outgoing year 2024. PARLIAMENT: FIVE PARTIES, 126 MEMBERS The election for the State Great Khural, the parliament of Mongolia to be formed for the next term, was held as scheduled on June 28, 2024, resulting in the formation of the first parliament with 126 members. The changes to the system, which were made by the previous parliament, intended to unify the diverse interests of ensuring national harmony, security, and perfecting a multi-party democratic parliamentary government where every vote counts. The expansion of the parliament to 126 members was confirmed through the election results. Out of the candidates from 19 parties, two coalitions, and over 40 independents, totaling 1341 candidates, the Mongolian People's Party (MPP) secured 68 seats, the Democratic Party (DP) 42, the Labor Party 8, the National Coalition 4, and the Green Party 4. This outcome reflects the mixed electoral system. Of the 126 parliamentary members, 78 were elected from major electoral districts, and 48 from party lists. Among the elected members, 32 are women, setting a new record for female representation in Mongolia's parliament at 25% and leading in Asia. Five of the 126 elected members of the State Great Khural represent the Kazakh ethnicity, 80 are first-time parliamentarians, while 46 have been elected more than once. The youngest newly elected member is 27, and the oldest is 73. Profession-wise, the parliament includes 17 engineers, 29 jurists and lawyers, 40 economists and financiers, 8 linguists and international relations experts, 8 teachers, 5 doctors, 5 journalists, 4 political scientists, and 4 sociologists and physicists. In the 2024 elections, 2.2 million voters were registered, with 1.4 million casting their votes. Although the turnout was lower than the previous elections, the number of voters who cast their votes did not decrease, according to the General Election Commission. Official information stated that 19 parties and two coalitions spent 14.9 billion MNT, and 820 candidates spent a total of 93.6 billion MNT on the election campaign. Despite discussions and legal amendments to reduce campaign spending after each election, this one demonstrated that it's not always effective in practice. The major districts expanded, increasing costs, as explained by candidates. Despite various cost-saving measures such as reducing advertisement board sizes, “wealthy candidates outspent less wealthy ones,” leading to complaints. Hence, reducing the influence of money in future elections remains crucial. The State Great Khural election drew attention globally as it took place in democratic Mongolia, a landlocked country sandwiched between two large authoritarian regimes, Russia and China, with vast natural resources but only 3.5 million people. It attracted observers too. About 260 observers ensured the elections complied with the law. One such organization was the Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Jennifer Brush, head of the Election Observation Mission, highlighted that despite some restrictions like social network limitations, candidates could freely campaign. On July 2, the newly elected State Great Khural convened its first session, with members taking their oaths and starting their work. Their goal is to prioritize the country's and people's interests over personal or group interests. On October 11, 2024, a nationwide local election took place where voters selected representatives for provinces, the capital city, towns, and districts for the next four years. A total of 12 parties and coalitions fielded 17,275 candidates. In the capital, the MPP achieved a decisive victory, securing 40 of 45 mandates in the City Council, while the DP won five seats. POLITICAL TRIAD IN EXECUTIVE POWER Since 1990, Mongolia has established 17 governments, with Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene currently serving as the 33rd Prime Minister. During this period, four coalition governments have been formed: - 2004 - Elbegdorj's coalition government (DP + MPRP) - 2007 - Bayar's coalition government (MPRP + Green Party) - 2008 - Bayar's coalition government (MPRP + DP) - 2012 - Altankhuyag's coalition government (DP + MPRP + Green Party) - 2014 - Saikhanbileg's coalition government (DP + MPRP) - 2024 - Oyun-Erdene's coalition government (MPP + DP + Labor Party) During the coalition governments, significant projects have been initiated. For example, the Oyu Tolgoi project agreement was signed under Bayar's government. The current coalition government led by L. Oyun-Erdene is ambitious, aiming for economic independence and major construction projects, supported by a 126-member parliament. FOREIGN RELATIONS ACROSS ALTAI MOUNTAINS Mongolia’s geographic location, as a buffer state between two large neighbors, dictates its foreign policy of peace and neutrality. President U. Khurelsukh focuses on maintaining diplomatic relations with all nations. In 2024, Khurelsukh made official visits to Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, France, USA, and Azerbaijan. Mongolia hosted leaders from Germany, Belarus, Laos, Bhutan, Slovenia, Switzerland, Russia, Vietnam, and Kazakhstan. The strategic relationships with Central Asian countries to expand economic ties signify an understanding of the geopolitical importance of diplomatic engagements. ECONOMIC SPIN AND REVIVAL YEAR At the end of 2024, Mongolia's economy showed positive indicators. Given the election year, economists noted a more inflated budget compared to previous years. Emphasis was placed on protecting citizens' real income, supporting urban and rural revitalization, expanding the economic base through development projects, and implementing a fiscally responsible budget policy. RED ALERT OF EXPLOSION On the brink of 2024, a severe explosion in Ulaanbaatar resulted in many casualties and damages, leaving unresolved issues as 2025 approaches. A gas transporter crashed near the "Dunjingarav" Shopping Center on January 24, 2024, causing an explosion that destroyed 63 residential units and left 200 people homeless. The explosion resulted in the deaths of three emergency workers and four civilians, injuries to many others, and a significant financial loss. Authorities are still investigating, and lessons have been learned about the importance of legal compliance in urban planning and oversight.

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Has Mongolian International Journalism Become "Blunt"?

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

The "Baldorj" Foundation and the School of Film, Television, and Media Arts of Mongolian University of Arts and Culture have jointly organized the Journalism Criticism Competition for the eighth time. The competition has been regularly held since 2017 to establish a space for critique in Mongolian journalism, support young researchers, refine journalists' works, and combine theoretical and practical training. Twelve researchers competed in this year's competition. From them, the third-place winner from the Press Institute Journalism Lecturer T. Yeson-Erdene's critique "Has Mongolian International Journalism Become 'Blunt'?" is presented to our readers through the "Udriin Sonin" example. THEORETICAL BASIS In 2021, the Press Institute conducted a study titled "Monitoring the Use of Foreign Media." The research included 1504 participants sampled from Ulaanbaatar's nine districts, six provincial centers, and Darkhan-Uul aimag, producing quantitative and qualitative results. One key finding was that, on average, 60.3% of respondents stated they received news and information about world events from domestic media in their native language. Although these are duplicated counts, approximately 60% is high compared to other types of information consumption. For instance, consumption of movies, shows, and entertainment information was 37.8%, content about social issues and living conditions was 30.9%, and political and economic news was 18-20%. Dividing the aforementioned categories by age groups shows slightly different pictures, but the most commonly received type of information is current world events. What are world news and information? In our journalistic practice, this term has been variably referred to as "international news," "world news," "foreign news," etc. It has not been clearly defined as to which is the correct term. Regarding this, news can be classified by the object it involves into, firstly, foreign and, secondly, domestic categories. Our domestic journalism textbooks do not provide definitions beyond this. Therefore, I examined how Mongolian journalists themselves understand and write foreign news. If you visit the historic MONTSAME agency's montsame.mn site, there is a "World News" category. However, the department responsible for translating and publishing news under this section is called the "Foreign News Department" in its introduction. News.mn categorizes its news section as "World," while gogo.mn labels it "In the World." Medee.mn calls its section "Foreign News," and the major broadcasting television NTV includes "International News" in its news program. It is worth highlighting the research by M. Bolod-Erdene, a lecturer at the National University of Mongolia with a doctorate, and M. Amartuvshin, a lecturer and associate professor at Mongolian State University of Education, on how international journalism in Mongolia covers neighboring countries. They stated that "Mongolian international journalism needs to provide information about neighboring countries truthfully and in line with national interests, with a pragmatic approach." They stressed that information selection and evaluation should focus on explaining the two neighbors' positions on global issues, analyzing it from a national interest perspective. From this, it appears that when using terms like international news, reports, world news, and foreign news in practice, there isn't a stringent terminology. Depending on the conditions, these are often used interchangeably in both domestic and international media. However, defining "Mongolian International Journalism" and conducting research under this name signifies a standardization of the term within the academic realm, as evidenced by the collaborative research of two professors from the National University of Mongolia and the Mongolian State University of Education. Generally, it is common to investigate and convey information about foreign and international relations, and the goal of this type of news is to provide audiences with accurate, timely, and necessary information about world events and developments. Late journalist L. Bolormaa wrote in her book about media management that "there must be foreign news on the front page (especially about Russia and China)," and noted that "foreign news is one of the main parts of The New York Times' reputation." This indicates that not only do viewers and readers consider news from abroad or international events important, but maintaining a regular flow of this type of information is an established practice within media organizations. AN EXAMPLE FROM "UDRIIN SONIN" "Udriin Sonin" has been published since March 10, 1998, reaching its 26th year and having produced over 7400 issues. As highlighted in its "About Us" section, this editorial office has been awarded "Best Newspaper" in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2021, and 2022, and "Best of the Best Newspaper" in 2016 and 2018. Let's mention one practice of the "Udriin Sonin" editorial. On the morning of September 11, 2001, at 09:14 am New York time, hijackers crashed planes into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. At that time, it was 21:14 in Ulaanbaatar. In this historic moment, "Udriin Sonin" journalists had already sent their newspaper to print. However, it was unthinkable not to feature such significant news prominently on the first page. So, the editorial office urgently recalled the printed newspapers at midnight, changed the first-page content to the news of the attack, and reprinted it. A copy of the recalled newspaper was kept as a memento on the office's meeting room wall. At the time, major dailies like "Undurug" and "Mongoliin Medee" couldn't change their front page content overnight, so they reported the event the next day on September 13. "Undurug" made a significant mistake, however, printing an issue with a cover story about U.S. green cards on the day of the attack. The late journalist L. Bolormaa later commented in her book "Reports in Dresses" that it felt "like mocking the deceased" to have published such a story alongside images of "the Twin Towers." For "Udriin Sonin," the first pages' material regarding the attack included headlines like "America Was Suddenly Attacked," a montage of the images of the two towers struck by planes, George Bush, and Osama bin Laden. Additionally, journalist J. Gangaa obtained a concise statement from politician E. Bat-Uul, perceptive of the situation, who remarked, "We have suffered a significant loss to our interests." "UDRIIN SONIN" AND OTHER MEDIA FROM 2004-2014 Let's examine this part in connection with the aspect mentioned earlier, that "Mongolian international journalism needs to pragmatically deliver realistic information about neighboring countries in accordance with national interests." How have our media been writing about neighboring countries since 2000? In 2010, the Press Institute conducted a study "Comparative Analysis of Articles About Russia and China Published in Some Mongolian Media in 2000 and 2010," as part of a project for developing media criticism, using critical discourse analysis methodology. How was Russian President Vladimir Putin's image portrayed in our dailies in the 2000s? From the study, key words and images include phrases like "Putin is an influential global politician," "Putin is compassionate and talented," "Putin authored a textbook on judo," and "Putin has a close relationship with the Mongolian President." These perspectives are seen in the period's newspaper pages. However, in a decade, this situation has markedly changed; we have become more critical of our "big brothers." Putin-related material has apparently decreased because Vladimir Putin stepped down as head of state and Dmitry Medvedev was elected president, although, as prime minister, some news and articles were still being printed, most of them from a critical viewpoint. For instance, daily newspapers wrote about Putin's political decisions, Russian export tariffs on wheat affecting dependent countries like Mongolia, and reported negatively on them. Examples include "Mongolia Again Becomes a Satellite State of Putin's, according to 'Wall Street'," "They Try to Sell Us Rail Equipment Again," "Russians Imposed a Ban," and "A Russian Boss known as 'Dumbo' Among Railway Workers." In the 2000s, information about China was mostly written in a neutral tone. Rare cases criticized or scrutinized business, mining company disputes, crimes, and misconduct involving both Chinese and Mongolians. This intensified in the 2010s. For example, in "Udriin Sonin" issue No. 242 in 2010, they extensively reported on a story titled "Chinese Assaulted and Dragged Two Mongolian Youths to Death" involving a Chinese-invested company owner, Zhang, engaged in fluorspar mining in the Airag soum of Dornogovi aimag. The prevalent image of Chinese people portrayed them as corrupt, greedy, deceptive, and violent, harming people. Examples include "Chinese Who Ran Over a Person in Airag Soum Might Avoid Charges" ("Udriin Sonin," 2010.10.09), "Mongolia's Coal, China's Interest" ("Unuudur" newspaper, 2010.09.06), "China's 'Leishon Resource' Twisted Our MRA Officials' Heads" ("Ugluunii Sonin," 2010.10.26). FROM "WORLD NEWS" TO BRIEF NEWS Mongolian daily newspapers have been publishing fewer pages in recent years due to declining subscriber numbers and human resource shortages. "Udriin Sonin" could not avoid this challenge. Reviewing issues from the first half of this year showed a publication range from a minimum of eight to a maximum of 16 pages, with the "World News" section limited to one page. Moreover, this section's news articles have become too brief. For instance, in March issues of "Udriin Sonin," only one news about China was published, which was a headline-less brief note about "Xiaomi" starting to sell electric cars. The "World News" section in "Udriin Sonin" is often on the ninth page, which also commonly has tender announcements, further shrinking space for foreign news. Only one news article with a title may appear, making it overwhelmingly a page of brief news. Based on the content, reporting on the USA and Ukraine is typical. Information about China was sparse. Additionally, an article, possibly published by the Chinese Embassy, appeared on March 7. It was printed under the "Cooperation" page, with unclear motives. This article promoted China's 14th National People's Congress. While "Udriin Sonin" mainly prints its internal pages in black and white, it printed this specific article's page in color, along with photos sourced from the "Xinhua" agency. Astoundingly, this article had no translator credited, nor was it marked as "advertisement" or "non-editorial content," suggesting a deliberate editorial decision not to indicate its nature as covert promotion. The article also appeared in the "Udriin Sonin" electronic archive at dnn.mn. However, it wasn't found published on "Udriin Sonin" or dnn.mn's Facebook pages, despite searching. To expand the micro-study on "Udriin Sonin" news coverage, a detailed search was conducted on the dnn.mn site. This was done utilizing a Google search optimization with keywords "China" OR "Chinese" site:dnn.mn. This detailed search produced all the articles published on that site with the given keywords. Setting the date range to the last year yielded 467 results. Below are the titles of the first 15 articles. Most of the articles and news are neutral in tone, with none presenting a critical stance. Content categorized as negative primarily involves crimes, disputes, and crises, but otherwise, the articles retained a neutral tone. Therefore, the news on "Udriin Sonin's" dnn.mn site predominantly appears formal, seemingly sourced from a specific place. CONCLUSION Studies reveal that in 2009, China released a document titled "General Plan to Internationalize China's Media from 2009-2020," announcing financing of around six billion dollars to this sector. Analyzing the policy level suggests that the "Go Global with Media" strategy is implemented in two ways: "Building One's Own Ship to Sail" (造船出海), and "Borrowing a Ship to Sail" (借船出海). "Building One's Own Ship" strategy involves establishing a worldwide media network to disseminate information. This sees agencies like the "Xinhua," Chinese Central Television, China International Radio, and "China Daily"/"Global Times" expanding their operations and increasing budgets. "Borrowing a Ship to Sail" involves using foreign media to transmit information. In other words, this includes cooperation, sharing information, and signing agreements for partnerships. CCTV has collaborative and information exchange agreements with about 70 foreign media outlets. Research shows "China Daily" also issues monthly supplements in U.S. newspapers like "The Washington Post," "Los Angeles Times," and "Daily Telegraph." Hence, within the "scope of cooperation," it has become common to use Mongolian media for disseminating information and conducting publicity campaigns. If it doesn't violate the law, cooperation is a potential interaction in any sector. Also, advertising is justified if it doesn't breach media ethics principles. Crucially, according to media ethics principle 9.1, "Refrain from any form of concealed advertising," and "Mark paid articles or broadcasts with a distinctive sign or notation" must be adhered to. Failing to do so misuses journalistic activity.

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83 Calls Recorded for Disasters, Dangerous Events, and Accidents

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: montsame.mn

A total of 83 calls regarding disasters, dangerous events, and accidents were registered nationwide over the past week. These incidents occurred across 7 districts of the capital and 30 sums in 19 provinces. Responding to these calls, officials from the central and local Emergency Management Agency worked on duty, resulting in the rescue and protection of 8 civilians' lives. Out of the total calls, 70 were related to fires, 9 to accidents related to human activities, 3 to geological hazardous events, and 1 was a geological hazardous event.

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This Week in Mongolia

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Overview of events taking place from December 30, 2024, to January 5, 2025, in Ulaanbaatar: - On December 30: The parliamentary parties' group meetings will be held. - On December 31: Standing committees of the State Great Khural (Parliament) will hold meetings. - On December 31: The "Silver Night of Ulaanbaatar" New Year's celebration event will take place at the central square. - On January 1: Ulaanbaatar Railway LLC will organize the traditional "New Year's Sunrise" tour. - On January 2 and 3: The plenary sessions of the State Great Khural will be held. The "Best Work of the Year-2024" traditional exhibition organized annually by the Union of Mongolian Artists is ongoing. In the provinces: - On December 31: The "Silver Evening of Murun" carnival show will be held in Khövsgöl province. - On December 31: The "Golden Sun-2024" award ceremony to select the top of the year will be held in Dornod province. Follow @montsame.mn

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Environment

Introducing: The 2025 Plan to Reduce Air Pollution in the Capital City

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: itoim.mn

In 2025, solutions to reduce air pollution in Ulaanbaatar city were introduced. These solutions were presented by D. Munkhbaatar, the head of the city's Department for Combating Air and Environmental Pollution, based on decisions made by the National Committee for Reducing Air Pollution. 1. A law aimed at reducing air and environmental pollution in Ulaanbaatar is being drafted. This draft law is intended to be approved by the Parliament on January 15, 2025. The law includes the establishment of chimney-free zones where burning fires will be prohibited. It also plans to connect 40,000 households to natural liquefied natural gas. In the coming year, 520 households in the Bayankhoshuu and Sharga neighborhoods, as well as 3,858 households as part of the ger-area redevelopment, will be provided with apartments. 2. Of the 95,000 households living in traditional Mongolian gers in the capital, the stoves of 32,000 households will be replaced with double-combustion stoves initially. Additionally, efforts will focus on improving insulation in homes through both government and private sector initiatives. 3. There are 174 water and steam heating boilers that currently use raw coal. The plan is to convert these to gas or electric alternatives. 4. Across the capital, there are 2,666 low-pressure boilers. Efforts are underway to convert these to other types of energy sources and official directives have been issued. 5. From March 1, 2025, the company Tavantolgoi Fuel is researching the replacement of raw materials. Initially, the aim is to replace raw coal with semicoke, and secondly, to wash and enrich coal from the 0 level of the Erdenes Tavantolgoi company to substitute it as the raw material for improved briquettes. Samples have already been sent to relevant laboratories. 6. Plans are underway to modernize the filters of the chimneys of the thermal power plants TPP II, III, Amgalan, and others, converting them to electric. 7. Equipment for converting 1,128 buses involved in city transport to run on gas will be installed. 8. Thirty percent of state kindergartens in the capital city will be equipped with indoor air sensors and comprehensive ventilation systems. Additionally, short-term and long-term projects, such as the Tuul expressway and the Bypass road, are planned to be introduced in 2025.

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Charging a 2.4kW Heater with Solar Panels to Heat Homes Costs $3,500 per Household

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: ikon.mn

A household in the 15th district of Sukhbaatar, Selbe area, has disconnected from its chimney as part of a project to store renewable energy and heat a traditional ger (yurt) during the cold season. Currently, more than 40 households in Ulaanbaatar and about 20 in Erdenet, totaling 60 households, are involved in this project. The project was introduced by T. Davaadalai, the first deputy mayor, and M. Enkhsetseg, a member of parliament. According to their presentation, the household has installed a 3.4-kilowatt solar panel along with a 4.8-kilowatt battery in their yard. They have implemented a solution to charge a 2.4-kilowatt heater from the solar panel to warm their home. The heater placed in the home absorbs heat and retains it for eight hours. When the solar panel is not charged, it is recharged with the battery. The project has been implemented by the UN Development Program, the City Mayor's Office, the Ministry of Environment, and the French government in over 40 households in the capital city. The total investment in the project is about 10 million MNT or $3,500 per household. About 1 million MNT has been spent on insulating the household's doorway, smoke hole, and skirting. In the future, solutions for cooking food and making tea on the heater installed in the home will be explored. The solar panel occupies an area of 15 square meters and has a lifespan of 10 years. The first household to implement this solution has been using it for three years. Although the solar panel loses 1% of its voltage collection capacity annually, it can be used for 20 years. If the capacity of this solution is increased, there is potential to sell stored electrical energy back to the central system. The proposed tariff for selling stored electrical energy to the central system is being increased to 200 MNT per kilowatt from 07:00 to 17:00 and to 300 MNT from 17:00 to 21:00, based on user feedback. Once approved, there will be opportunities to earn a steady income by supplying energy to the central system during peak load times. The installation of solar panels, home heaters, and insulation takes two days. If around 1,000 households participate in the project, the cost will drop to around $2,500 per household, reducing expenses and enabling more households to disconnect from their chimneys.

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D. Sundjid: The pressing human rights issue in our country is pollution of air, soil, and water

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) held a press conference today, announcing the key inspection highlights and other issues for 2024. NHRC Chairperson D. Sundjid introduced this summary information as follows. She stated, "According to the Constitution of Mongolia, ensuring human rights is an obligation for all state institutions. There remain pressing human rights issues in our country that need to be resolved. First and foremost, we must address the issue of 'inviolability'. Additionally, the right to live in a healthy and safe environment is being violated due to air pollution and smog. We also need to address the pollution of water and soil. The right to 'inviolability' comprises the conditions of arrest and detention of suspects and accused persons, whether they are tried in a fair court, and the provision of legal assistance, with further analysis and measures to be taken on these issues." The NHRC operated in 2024 with a budget of 5.1 billion, with 78 staff positions implementing 96 objectives. This year marked the 24th year of NHRC's operation, with 1,286 complaints received, making it the year with the most complaints. The high volume of complaints is related to the increase in human rights issues. On the other hand, citizens have become more informed and aware of their rights and how to protect them. Government agencies and law enforcement received the most demands and recommendations based on the complaints made by citizens," she said. In response to a journalist's question on human rights issues related to torture, NHRC Chairperson D. Sundjid provided the following answer: Journalist: Why is the right to a fair trial being violated? What recommendations has the NHRC made in this regard? D. Sundjid: We need to reassess the actions taken in this direction. This is because both the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure, implemented since 2017, are involved. In terms of criminal cases related to torture, data shows that only 14 people have been held accountable across five cases through the courts. However, the number of investigations is numerous, around 400. The majority of the complaints have been dismissed. Notice: Media entities (Television, Radio, Social, and Web pages) must cite their source (ikon.mn) when using our information fully or partially.

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Announcement of Chimney-Free Zones in Ulaanbaatar

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: ikon.mn

A plan to reduce smoke in Ulaanbaatar City was introduced by D. Munkhbaatar, Director of the Ulaanbaatar City Air and Environment Pollution Agency. He stated that the first step is to improve the legal framework. A draft law on reducing air and environmental pollution in Ulaanbaatar City is being developed, aiming to be approved by the State Great Khural on January 15, 2025. The content of this law clearly defines smoke-free, chimney-free zones. In chimney-free zones, burning of coal or any fire is prohibited in households and buildings. Therefore, LNG and LPG will be implemented. It is planned to connect 40,000 households to liquefied natural gas. Initially, the built-up districts and sub-districts, from behind the Dragon Center to the northern hills of districts III and IV, Gandantegchinlen Monastery, and the 32nd circle will be declared as chimney-free zones. The ger district households in Gandantegchinlen Monastery and the 32nd circle within these zones are being studied to resolve heating issues with kerosene heaters. Next year, 520 households in Bayankhoshuu and Shargakhad sub-centers, and 3,858 households redeveloped in the Ger district, totaling 4,378 households, are set to move into apartments. In total, 95,000 households living in Mongolian gers in the city will be insulated, with the first 32,000 households provided with double-combustion stoves. Whether these stoves will be given for free or provided on a loan was not clearly answered. Moreover, the 174 water and steam heating stoves, which use 150,000 tons of raw coal annually within the city, are planned to be switched to gas or electric alternatives by 2025. D. Munkhbaatar, Director of the NAOBTG, mentioned that starting March 1, 2025, they are studying to replace the raw materials of the Tavantolgoi Fuel Company. Firstly, the first coal layer and secondly, by washing and enriching Erdenes Tavantolgoi’s ground zero coal layer, they aim to improve the raw material of Tavantolgoi fuel. Samples have been sent to laboratories for analysis. Next year, the filters of chimneys at thermal power stations such as "CHP II" and "CHP III" will be electrified. Meanwhile, gas equipment will be added to 1,128 buses in public transportation. In addressing indoor pollution, kindergartens, schools, and hospitals are given special consideration. Therefore, next year 30% of more than 300 kindergartens owned by the state will be equipped with indoor air sensors and a comprehensive air ventilation system.

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Livestock Numbers Decreased by 7 Million Compared to Last Year

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: news.mn

The National Statistics Committee has introduced the preliminary results of the 2024 livestock census. According to these results, a total of 57.6 million livestock were counted nationwide by the end of 2024. This shows a decrease of 7 million, or 10.9%, compared to the previous year. Data indicates that the numbers of all types of livestock have decreased, except for camels. In particular, the number of horses decreased to 4.7 million, down by 3.1%, and the number of cattle decreased to 5.1 million, down by 5.2%. The number of sheep decreased to 24.5 million, down by 16.7%, and goats decreased to 22.9 million, down by 6.9%. However, the number of camels increased to 480.6 thousand, up by 1.4%. According to the preliminary results of the livestock census, Khuvsgul province led the count with 5.2 million livestock. Uvurkhangai province counted 5.1 million livestock, Tuv province counted 4.2 million, Arkhangai province counted 4.1 million, and Bayankhongor province counted 4.0 million livestock, making these five provinces the leaders in livestock numbers. In the 2024 preliminary census results, Arkhangai province led in the count of horses and cattle, Umnugovi province led in camels, Uvurkhangai province in sheep, and Bayankhongor province in goats. In 2024, sheep accounted for 42.5% of the total livestock, goats for 39.8%, cattle for 8.8%, horses for 8.1%, and camels for 0.8%. Nationwide, a total of 16.1 million young livestock were reared in 2024. Breeding females decreased by 3.9 million compared to the previous year, and reared young livestock decreased by 2.3 million. A total of 9.3 million large livestock perished due to misfortune nationwide. Considered by type of livestock, sheep accounted for 5.0 million of the loss, goats for 2.9 million, cattle for 792.4 thousand, horses for 553.8 thousand, and camels for 11.2 thousand.

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Acquisition of a Supercomputer for Climate Change Forecasting

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, E. Battulga, announced that a collaborative project funded by the Green Climate Fund, involving the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is being implemented to enhance the capacity of rural communities in Mongolia to adapt to climate change and improve risk management. As part of this initiative, the capacity to calculate long-term weather forecasts using various models to detail climate change predictions will be enhanced. Additionally, a contract for the purchase of a high-speed supercomputer was signed today. The new supercomputer will increase the device capacity to 100 teraflops, which is 16 times faster than the current speed, and the storage capacity will be roughly 20 times larger. This will allow for increased spatial resolution and accuracy in atmospheric models, and enable the use of dynamic models for prediction purposes. With the new supercomputer, weather uncertainty will be more closely approximated, and the quality of forecasts will improve. Future trends of climate change will be calculated in finer detail using multiple models, and strategies for national and regional pasture management and natural resource management focused on the livestock sector will be planned. It will provide crucial weather forecast data necessary for ensuring readiness for risks and more accurate projections of climate change's future, enhancing research results and factual accuracy. Through the ADAPT project, future training will be organized in stages for the specialists of the National Agency of Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring, focused on studying climate change, weather forecasting model (WRF), technology, and model use and processing methods. Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, E. Battulga stated: "Our country initially installed high-speed supercomputer technology from the American company CRAY at the National Agency of Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring in 2011 and began using it for daily weather forecasts. Now, this supercomputer is nearing the end of its operational life, slowing down, and operating at less than a third of its total capacity." The UNDP's Resident Representative, Matilda Dimovska, added: "The UNDP is implementing a project to purchase and install high-capacity supercomputers with the Green Climate Fund's financing in Mongolia and 2-3 other countries. Given the increasing frequency of extreme weather events due to climate change, improving weather forecast predictions and developing a comprehensive early warning system for disasters can ensure preparedness and timely responses, allowing any disaster to be overcome with minimal damage. Thus, the UNDP is supporting the government in purchasing high-speed supercomputers, focusing on early forecasting of weather and climate change trends, and making plans and ensuring preparedness based on these forecasts."

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Bulgan: Signed Memorandum to Accelerate the “Billion Trees” Program

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: montsame.mn

As part of the phase to intensify the "Billion Trees" national campaign initiated by the President of Mongolia, the establishment of "Billion Trees" parks in 21 provinces is starting in Bulgan province. Within the framework of this work, Z. Munkhbat, a non-staff advisor to the President of Mongolia, and representatives of the "Billion Trees" non-governmental organization visited the province, signed a memorandum of cooperation, and affixed their signatures to the document along with Sh. Nasandulam, Chairman of the Provincial Citizens' Representative Council, and D. Purev-Ochir, Governor of the Province. Governor D. Purev-Ochir stated, "We are working with the goal and ambition to lead Mongolia in joining the movement to establish the 'Billion Trees' parks. I am pleased that the initial steps of establishing a 'Billion Trees' park are being set in motion." "I am delighted that this development project is starting in Bulgan province, the cradle of pioneers and renowned individuals. Being the first comes with overcoming the greatest challenges and obstacles, which builds experience and sets an example for others. Congratulations to the people who have given birth to pioneers for becoming pioneers once again," highlighted Z. Munkhbat, a non-staff advisor to the President of Mongolia, in his speech.

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Innovation

Mongolian and European Universities to Collaborate

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

Within the framework of the European Union's Erasmus program, aimed at strengthening the capacity of higher education institutions, a national project to reform and introduce Mongolia's teacher training education program towards green and digital transition is being launched, according to the General Department of Education. The project will be implemented over three years with the participation of three European universities, five universities from Mongolia, and three organizations. Specifically, the Mongolian National University of Education, the Eastern Region School of the National University of Mongolia, "Otgon-tenger" University, "Khangai" International University, "Darkhan" University, the Ministry of Education, the General Department of Education, the National Institute of Educational Research, Transilvania University of Brașov, the University of Palermo, and the non-profit organization CESIE based in Palermo, Italy, will partake in carrying out the project. "Otgon-tenger" University will be the project's general coordinator. As part of this endeavor, a "Teacher Education Strategy for 2027-2032" will be formulated in alignment with a national policy adhering to the green transition and digital program. Additionally, the project aims to localize the continuous professional development practices for teachers.

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Mobile Access to the Network Anywhere to Be Implemented in Mongolia in Collaboration with SpaceX

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The Chief of the Cabinet Secretariat and the Head of Mongolia's National Space Council, N. Uchral, held an online meeting with Sean Taylor, Director of Partnerships at SpaceX's Starlink, and Sharon Jan, Senior Manager of Satellite Policy. During the meeting, they discussed the service of accessing the network from mobile phones regardless of location and expressed the full support of the Government of Mongolia for its implementation in the country. Notice: Media organizations (Television, Radio, Social, and Web pages) must mention the source (ikon.mn) when using any part of our information, either in full or in part.

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E-Mongolia temporarily suspends paid services

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: isee.mn

In accordance with Article 7.1 of the Budget Law, as the fiscal year comes to an end, the paid services of the state services integrated system, E-Mongolia, will be temporarily unavailable from 12:00 PM on December 30, 2024, until 1:00 AM on January 1, 2025. Other services without fees will continue to operate normally.

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Newcom Group Wins “Entrepreneur 2024” Award for Innovation

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Newcom Group has been awarded the Innovation Implementer Award at the "Entrepreneur 2024" event, which is traditionally organized by the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry to select the best businesses and industry leaders of the year. Their drone-based project for transporting blood and blood products was recognized and received the Bronze Mercury Trophy. The significance and value of this project, which aims to improve the accessibility of emergency medical services for the citizens of Ulaanbaatar—a city with heavy traffic congestion where half of the population resides—have been evaluated and acknowledged with this prestigious award for implementing international best practices. The project team successfully conducted 50 flights from the National Blood Transfusion Center to the Mongolian-Japanese Hospital at AHSU, the maternity-specialized Amgalan Hospital, and the National Institute of Maternal and Child Health. They transported a total of 38,259 milliliters (ml) of five different types of blood and blood products. Furthermore, blood transfusions were administered to 178 patients through this project. Notably, urgent donor blood was delivered by drone to two critically ill patients at AHSU's Mongolian-Japanese Hospital, saving their lives by providing timely assistance. The project is implemented by Mongolian Smart Drone Delivery LLC, a subsidiary of Newcom Group. This company became the first in Mongolia to receive a certificate with No. 01 for "Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operations" after meeting all the criteria stipulated under the Civil Aviation Law and its relevant regulations. A heartfelt thank you goes out to partner organizations and team members who collaboratively and successfully implemented this innovative, accessible, and advanced project, crafting a novel chapter in technological advancement together. Together, let us start our next journey in the coming year by expanding the scope of our collaboration, broadening our activities, learning from international best practices, and taking our project to the next phase.

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10 Notable Achievements of the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Communications in 2024

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: isee.mn

In 2024, Mongolia achieved great success in the field of telecommunications and information technology. Notably, according to the UN's E-Government Development Index, Mongolia advanced by 28 places and ranked 46th out of 193 countries. Furthermore, it was assessed as being at the "developing" level in the international cybersecurity index. Additionally, Mongolia established a virtual zone to support startup companies with the goal of creating a unicorn company valued at 1 billion USD. Companies registered in the virtual zone will receive 8 types of tax and non-tax benefits. E-Government Development Index Improved Mongolia advanced by 28 places in the E-Government Development Index, ranking 46th out of 193 countries and 13th among 49 Asian countries. The UN measures the index based on human resources, digital services, and telecommunications infrastructure indicators. Mongolia scored 0.7 in human resources, 0.8 in digital services, and 0.9 in telecommunications infrastructure. This indicates a strong shift towards digital governmental services, well-developed basic telecommunications infrastructure, and increased digital skills and participation among citizens, recognized internationally. Mongolia was also rated at the "developing" level in the international cybersecurity index. We scored 19 out of a possible 20 points on the legal environment criterion but need to improve our international cooperation, human resources, and technical capacity. In terms of cybersecurity, we are conducting an assessment of the "current state of Mongolia's cybersecurity" in collaboration with the University of Oxford and are preparing cybersecurity professionals with the help of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Virtual Zone to Support IT Industry Established In the 2023 International Startup Ecosystem Index, six countries from the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC), including Mongolia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Kyrgyzstan, were ranked between 51st and 100th, demonstrating regional development. IT products and services can reach international markets regardless of geographical location, which can be both an advantage and a competitive challenge for our country. By creating specific zones, we can foster concentrated high-skilled talent and develop alongside businesses. Companies operating in the virtual zone will receive 9 types of tax and non-tax benefits regardless of location. A grant will finance the costs of patenting IT products locally and abroad; - A grant will fund the costs of international certification of IT products focused on export; - Reimbursements will be given for social insurance contributions paid by registered IT manufacturers in the virtual zone; - If projects or measures based on artificial intelligence are at least 60% self-financed, a grant will cover the remainder; - Awards and incentives will be provided to patent holders creating advanced technology products and services; - Credit guarantees will be issued under the conditions and procedures set forth in the Credit Guarantee Fund Law; - Up to a one-time support equal to 70% of research and development costs for products registered for export or intellectual property will be granted to local IT startups; - A portion of the financing of interest on loans for implementing IT product and service projects will be provided; - Accelerated depreciation of assets will be calculated for IT startups. This creates an opportunity for IT companies to compete internationally, operate in favorable economic conditions, and attract investment. Drone Testing Zones to be Established The global drone market reached 33.7 billion USD in 2023 and is expected to grow to 54.6 billion USD by 2030. Mongolia will keep pace with this growing market, which accounts for 24.6 billion USD in production and service. Drone testing zones will be established in the Bayanzurkh and Nalaikh districts of the capital city, as well as in Darkhan-Uul province, for professional and amateur use. Establishing a drone testing center will facilitate emergency medical deliveries to remote areas, disaster risk prevention, and the development of innovative drone-based products and services. Within this scope, a Memorandum of Understanding will be signed between the "National Association of Mongolian Drone Developers" and the "Korean Association of Drone Developers" to assemble drones in Mongolia using Korean technology starting this spring. Additionally, it will be possible to accumulate know-how from Korea on drone legal regulations, technology, and human resource training. Thus, a new avenue for testing, implementing, and localizing advanced new technology in the country and attracting international investors has opened. Apple Pay Introduced Mongolia has joined the globally recognized Apple Pay international payment system. This makes it possible to use the national payment card “₮ card” for international transactions. Apple Pay, a payment system developed by Apple with 1.6 billion users, processed 6 trillion dollars in transactions in 2022. Now, more than 1,600,000 iOS users in Mongolia can make purchases with iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac, and iPad from anywhere in the world. Apple Pay works just like payment cards, using NFC technology to transmit data over short distances, enabling transactions simply by bringing an iPhone or Apple Watch near a store POS terminal. Preparations for Launching a National Satellite Completed The feasibility study for a national satellite was revised and approved. During this time, the location for the project's ground station was determined in Bayan-Ölgii, Darkhan-Uul, Ömnögovi, Dornod provinces, and the Naran station, where assessments on environmental impact were also conducted. This project aims to provide internet connectivity from anywhere in Mongolia, enable direct access to IT services, and ensure national security by launching a communications satellite. Draft translations of loan agreements were prepared and submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for review following a memorandum signed in 2023. Network coverage exists in 23.8% of Mongolia’s territory, making the national satellite crucial for expansion. As a result, 250,000 pastoral households will gain access to services like E-Mongolia, E-school, and E-hospital. Additionally, risks of disaster-related deaths will decrease by 30%, impacts of harsh weather by 10%, and forest fire incidence by 10%, while reducing health and education disparities in remote regions and saving 29 trillion MNT on internet services provided through fiber optic cable. Paperless Government Saved 3.8 Billion MNT Government agencies can now exchange official documents 100 percent electronically, saving 3.8 billion MNT. Specifically, the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Communications and the E-Mongolia Academy developed a unified document exchange system (Docx), integrating 17 ERP systems from the public and private sectors. Today, the middle document exchange system /Docx/ is used by 2001 government agencies. When calculating ministry official document processing stages, it takes 1-3 days to review and authenticate documents and 1-2 days for postal delivery within Ulaanbaatar or seven days for regional delivery. Implementing the "Paperless Policy" program will double productivity, reduce budget costs, and accelerate citizen access to public services. 4,693 Government Websites Consolidated into .mn The 4,693 government websites have been consolidated into gov.mn. The unified government website delivers government operations, services, news, and information through a single window and standard, saving 3.5 billion MNT per year. Public Electronic Services Made Easy and Accessible In 2024, 133 new public services were digitized. The number of E-Mongolia users reached 1,932,313, with 1,255 public electronic services available, saving citizens about 1.1 trillion MNT. A comparative study of AI strategies in countries like the UK, Kazakhstan, Estonia, and Singapore was conducted. Based on this study, a plan to transition the "E-Mongolia" unified platform to AI-based technology by 2025 through government and private sector collaboration is under development. Digitization of Provinces Will Be Assessed by Smart City Index Efforts to transform into digital provinces and cities began in Darkhan-Uul and Övörkhangai provinces. The transition towards a "Smart City" concept will be implemented nationwide. Provinces' digital transition will be evaluated by smart city indices. Launch of Observation Satellite Planned By 2027, Mongolia, in partnership with Kazakhstan, will launch an observation satellite that continuously captures survey images every 10 hours in sectors like construction, mining, and agriculture. Launching the observation satellite will allow for prompt and efficient decision-making in all vital and developmental sectors. Research is underway in collaboration with Hokkaido University experts. This initiative will enable the exchange, management, and co-ownership of satellite data with Asia-Pacific countries. Additionally, collaborations will focus on training professionals in space exploration.

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Health

NCCD: Influenza Virus Infections Rise to 30-35 Percent

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: itoim.mn

The National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD) provided information about influenza and influenza-like illnesses. At the press conference, NCCD Deputy Director O. Batbayar and Head of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of EENT Hospital R. Batsolongo participated. According to last week's report, about 38 percent of people undergoing treatment in hospitals have severe respiratory infections or pneumonia. Approximately 75 percent of influenza and influenza-like illnesses are among children up to 15 years old, with around 40 percent of those being children up to 5 years old. This week, officials report that influenza illness accounts for 30-35 percent of cases. Deputy Director O. Batbayar of NCCD stated: "The share of the influenza virus was one percent in the middle of last month, but currently it stands at 30-35 percent. The main risk of influenza and influenza-like illnesses is that the virus is similar to the COVID-19 virus and can worsen rapidly. This can lead to short-term pneumonia, high fever, and muscle and joint pain risks." R. Batsolongo, Head of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of EENT Hospital, noted: "Influenza and influenza-like illnesses come with many complications. People with underlying health conditions are at risk of serious complications from this illness. This year, children aged 10-14 are rapidly developing pneumonia." The severe symptoms of influenza complications include having a fever with cold extremities, known as white fever. Additionally, if symptoms such as loss of appetite and inability to sleep occur, it indicates the illness has worsened. In such cases, it is necessary to see a doctor and seek urgent hospital treatment. Influenza and influenza-like illnesses are acute, high-fever conditions that can quickly worsen a child's health status. Parents must follow the advice prescribed by doctors and give medicine to their children as instructed. Under no circumstances should parents attempt to treat their children on their own. Therefore, parents should take preventive measures against infections by wearing masks, paying attention to both their own and their children’s health, rinsing their mouths, washing their hands regularly, and drinking warm fluids frequently.

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If you have symptoms like a headache or fever, do not attend group gatherings for New Year's

Published: 2024-12-30 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD) provided an update today on the situation regarding influenza and influenza-like illnesses. Currently, influenza virus makes up 30-35% of all detected viruses, and complications have increased among children over five years old, adults, the elderly, and pregnant women. Additionally, while the occupancy rate for pediatric beds in city hospitals has decreased by 30%, illness among adults has increased. Deputy Director of NCCD and Deputy Head of the Influenza and Influenza-like Illness Rapid Response Headquarters, O. Batbayar, stated that the influenza virus is similar to the Covid-19 virus in that it can evade the human immune system and quickly lead to complications. It can cause high fever and pneumonia in a short period of time. Those with underlying health conditions face increased risk of complications. The virus can also cause inflammation of the heart and other muscles, and increase the risk of stroke and heart attack. As families celebrate New Year's festivities together, it is important to adhere to infection control measures. If you experience early symptoms of influenza such as a headache or fever, you should refrain from attending family or workplace New Year's celebrations. Historical data for our country shows that influenza cases significantly increase during the first and second weeks after New Year's, that is, up until January 14th, due to neglecting infection control measures during the New Year's period. The influenza virus mutates annually and its ability to evade immunity continues to increase.

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Today's Stories

Politics

Economy

Diplomacy

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10 Notable Achievements of the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Communications in 2024

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NCCD: Influenza Virus Infections Rise to 30-35 Percent

If you have symptoms like a headache or fever, do not attend group gatherings for New Year's

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