Within the framework of celebrating 95 years of mining in Mongolia, four conferences were held that included delegates from all aimags, kicking off with Erdenet in Orkhon aimag. Delegates gathered to evaluate their “yesterdays”, discuss their “todays” and plan their “tomorrows”.

The central region conference was organized by the Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry, the Mineral Resources and Petroleum Authority, the Erdenet Mining Company, and brought together miners, researchers and representatives from civil society and enterprises from Darkhan-Uul, Orkhon, Selenge, Khuvsgul, Bulgan, Tuv, Arkhangai and Uvurkhangai aimags, the Ministry of Natural Environment and Tourism, the Ministry of Transportation, the General Intelligence Agency, and the General Agency for Specialised Inspection. The conference, comprised of eight high-ranking officials and 400 attendees, was led by Erdenet Mining Company General Director Kh. Badamsuren, with participants’ recommendations read by G. Nandinjargal, State Secretary of the Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry.

The recommendation covered 16 initiatives including: The government should work within the framework of operations to improve the legislation and eliminate overlaps of laws and legislation; ensure a sustainable, clear, competitive legal environment for the sector; promote state policies for the minerals sector, industry sector and minerals usage, atomic energy and other respective laws and legislation; strengthen the capacity for the competition of minerals products on international markets; ensure no politicisation of the mining sector; build the capacity of companies, particularly in the field of responsibility and accountability; improve the partnership between the government and private sector; create a working system for collaboration between the government, non-government organisations, specialised associations and civil society organisations; use underground minerals with a minimum of waste; prioritise occupational safety and health issues; provide accurate reports of the minerals sector for the public; introduce new technology and innovations to production procedures; increase jobs in rural areas; develop infrastructure, protect nature and the environment; prepare draft policies for projects for heavy industry; improve professional skills; implement large-scale projects to create a new industry; build an active innovation-friendly business; and correlate the mining sector’s development with central regional development to improve the regional economic capacity.

The central region conference submitted these recommendations to the Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry and other ministries and departments for reference for future legislation and documentation.