Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Baganuur mine’s capacity to double

By Ch.KHALIUN
The extraction capacity of Baganuur mine is expected to double with the opening of the region’s new 700 MW power plant, a necessity to ensure sustainable operations at the new plant.
The mine has not seen technical upgrades since 1983, and its current extraction capacity stands at four million tons of coal per year. A total of 37 billion MNT has been earmarked for investment in the mine over the last two years.
On April 16 and 17, Minister of Industry D.Erdenebat visited the Baganuur mine, becoming acquainted with the mine’s activities, coal reserves, and necessary work for expansion.
The Minister said, “The issue to be concerned about is if the Baganuur mine will have coal when the first building of the plant opens in two years.” He also emphasized that the government will be paying close attention to the issue.
Heavy industry will be centralized in the Gobi region in the future, and the ministry believes that the power station will greatly contribute to ensuring power supply for area factories.
D.Erdenebat added, “We won’t decide on the expansion issue of the mine just by talking. Currently, an investment of over 100 billion MNT is necessary for the mine’s expansion. Even though it is impossible to resolve this issue now, because of the economic crisis, focusing on this issue is the Cabinet’s duty. Beginning the power plant’s construction and opening it will provide jobs to many Baganuur residents.”
The Cabinet gave Invest Mongolia Agency permission to build the Baganuur power plant under a concession agreement with Baganuur Power LLC on build-operate-transfer conditions.
The agreement stated that construction of the power plant will take four years, while the operational lifespan of the plant will be 21 years.
Science and Technology Campus to be established in Baganuur
Minister D.Erdenebat talked about plans to establish a Baganuur Science and Technology Park through a concession agreement.
The issue of mitigating UB’s rapidly growing population and moving universities from UB by establishing student campuses in Baganuur has faced two governments. The goal is to move the Mongolian University of Science and Technology from UB, and establish a research-based student campus in Baganuur.
Supporters believe that the campus would play a vital role in developing industry through a cluster system.
A visit to Baganuur was conducted by officials from the Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Energy, and Ministry of Health and Sport.

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