Mongolia passes law banning issuance of mining exploration licenses
ULAN BATOR, June 3 (Xinhua) -- The Mongolian parliament on Friday passed a law banning the issuance of new mining exploration licenses.
According to the law, the issuance of new mining exploration licenses will be banned until December 31. In April, President Tsakhia Elbegdorj initiated a law temporarily banning the issuance of new mining exploration license until April 30.
The Mineral Resources Authority of Mongolia has issued about 4,000 exploration and 1,000 mining licenses since the 1990s. There are only a dozen large mining operations being conducted in Mongolia despite the high number of exploration licenses given out.
Mongolian civic groups demanded stricter regulation in mining activities citing environmental degradation. Some lawmakers said many mining exploration license holders just keep the licenses in order to sell them to international companies.
Mining is a main economic sector in Mongolia and contributed 98 percent of total exports in 2010, according to the National Statistical office of Mongolia.
According to the law, the issuance of new mining exploration licenses will be banned until December 31. In April, President Tsakhia Elbegdorj initiated a law temporarily banning the issuance of new mining exploration license until April 30.
The Mineral Resources Authority of Mongolia has issued about 4,000 exploration and 1,000 mining licenses since the 1990s. There are only a dozen large mining operations being conducted in Mongolia despite the high number of exploration licenses given out.
Mongolian civic groups demanded stricter regulation in mining activities citing environmental degradation. Some lawmakers said many mining exploration license holders just keep the licenses in order to sell them to international companies.
Mining is a main economic sector in Mongolia and contributed 98 percent of total exports in 2010, according to the National Statistical office of Mongolia.
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