Category Archives: EITI Mongolia

And… off to another Asia Pacific Policy Project: EITI Localization in Mongolia

Debbie Prasad, MAAPPS // Jan 12, 2015

The wait is over and the 2015 mining policy project in Mongolia has finally begun! As a part of this team, I am excited to have the opportunity to finally put the theories I have learned about policy, into practice. As a future potential policy maker, this type of project in which one gains experience in applying policymaking is invaluable.

In my opinion, in order to make successful policies, it is important for a policymaker to understand their audience. It is also important to be aware of the fact that one policy implementation in one region may not be applicable in another. The lanes and avenues of the regions of the globe are diverse, and it is important to realize what each of these lanes and avenues identify with the most. It may not necessarily be true that a mining policy that was successful in Azerbaijan, will have the same success in Mongolia. The quest is to ask, why this may be the case? I am a newcomer to the mining industry and to Mongolia, and thus I have many questions as I begin this venture. Having questions, and seeking to find answers to these questions will enable me to understand the mining industry, and more importantly, Mongolia.

My flurry of questions start with: what are some Mongolian cultural norms? What is it that Mongolians identify with the most? Like India, and the Philippines, do Mongolians also identify with idolizing Bollywood or jamming to Pinoy Music? What about their political views? What is the voter turnout in a Mongolian election? Wait- do they have elections? What are the population demographics? Is the population more urban or rural? How does the “average Joe” Mongolian feel about the mining industry in Mongolia? How deeply is an average Mongolian citizen involved in mining? So many questions, and so many answers that need to be searched for!

The most important question of all though, pertains to the weather app on my phone. Today at 9:00 am local Ulaanbataar time, the temperature was -27degrees Celsius, which begs the question…..do Mongolian homes, particularly in the province of Selenge have central heating???

The First Steppe Leads to the Next

Ian McDonald // May 23, 2014

As the class that started this project winds down, we can look back and reflect upon the progress we’ve made in our goals as the project moves to the next phase.

We started with the idea of examining the mechanisms of government transparency in the extractive industries and how it relates to human development in Mongolia. We began with a thorough examination of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) as each member of the class performed a case study on the EITI an its operations in various countries. As the goal of the project is to provide policy recommendations to groups working in Mongolia to address the issues of corruption and improving human development, we had these parameters in mind as we performed our case studies.

As work went on with the case studies, we thought about how to address these needs specifically as they relate to Mongolia. Who better to ask than the people this work would directly influence? The class developed a survey for NGOs working in Mongolia to provide feedback, and the results were very helpful in determining the types of information we needed to extract from the case studies.

Comparing the individual studies to the EITI in Mongolia, we put the results of the survey to work and began the process of producing meaningful, actionable policy recommendations. The work is best summarized through the brochure the research team put together and of course through the information available in other posts on this blog.

Overall the first phase of the project was an instructive time during which the team progressed well toward the completion of its goals. The next phase begins later this month, with students from the program in Mongolia to give presentations as well as the creation of a documentary film. We all look forward to seeing the results of our work and have confidence that we’re helping Mongolians in their efforts to thwart corruption in government and improve human development.

Ulaanbaatar Presentation, May 26

Канад улсын Бритиш Колумбийн Их Сургууль (БКИС)-ийн Уул уурхайн инженер , Ази, номхон далайн бодлого судлалын магистрийн ангид суралцаж буй 13 оюутнууд 2014 оны хичээлийн жилийнхээ хаврын улиралд Олборлох үйлдвэрлэлийн ил тод байдлын санаачилгыг хэрэгжүүлэгч орнуудын тэр дундаа Монгол Улсын ОҮИТБС-ын жил бүрийн нэгтгэл тайланд дүн шинжилгээ хийж, судалгаа хийсэн байна.

Уг судалгааны ажлын үр дүнг танилцуулахаар БКИС-ийн Ази судлалын хүрээлэнгийн Доктор, профессор Жулиан Диркесээр ахлуулсан судлаач 7 оюутан Монгол улсад хүрэлцэн ирсэн бөгөөд танилцуулах уулзалтыг 2014 оны 5 дугаар сарын 26-ны өдөр 16:00 цагт Пума империал зочид буудлын хурлын танхимд зохион байгуулна.

Иймд дээрх сонирхолтой илтгэл, нээлттэй уулзалтад та бүхнийг урьж байна. Уулзалт Англи, Монгол хэл дээр орчуулгатай явагдана. Дэлгэрэнгүй мэдээллийг https://blogs.ubc.ca/maapps.- ээс авна уу. Оролцох эсэхээ 5 дугаар сарын 23-ны өдрийн дотор баталгаажуулна уу.

Хүндэтгэсэн,

Хөтөлбөр

Монголын ОҮИТБС-ын ажлын албаны зохицуулагч Ш.Цолмон

16:00 – 16:10 16:10 – 16:20

16:20 – 17:00 17:00 – 17:50 17:50 – 18:00

Канадын БКИС-ийн судлаач оюутнуудын Монголын ОҮИТБС-ын жил бүрийн нэгтгэл тайланд хийсэн дүн шинжилгээг танилцуулах уулзалт

2014 оны 5 дугаар сарын 26-ны өдөр, Даваа гараг

Нээлт, ОҮИТБС-ын ажлын албаны зохицуулагч Ш.Цолмон

Өмнөтгөл, БКИС-ийн Ази судлалын хүрээлэнгийн Доктор, профессор Жулиан Диркес

Судалгааны ажлын дүгнэлт, зөвлөмж, судалгааны баг Асуулт, хариулт, хэлэлцүүлэг
Хаалт

In Ulaanbaatar with Project Members

Some of the members of the EITI Mongolia project will be in Mongolia May 26-28 to present their analysis and recommendations.

The students will be presenting their analysis and observations in several contexts in Ulaanbaatar.

There will be a presentation at 16h on Monday, May 26, in the small conference room (2nd floor) of the Puma Imperial Hotel. The event is free and open to the public.

Mining Stakeholders of Mongolia

In order to be designated as “EITI compliant”, countries are required to assemble both a national council and a multi-stakeholder group of members representing government, civil society and companies in Mongolia’s extraction industry.

Mongolia’s EITI National Council, chaired by the Prime Minister of Mongolia is responsible for the coordination and monitoring of the EITI. Company and professional association members are selected and dismissed by the President of the Mongolian National Mining Association.

The country’s EITI Multi-Stakeholder Working Group (MSWG) is led by the senior-advisor to the Prime Minister. The group is responsible for the oversight of EITI implementation in Mongolia and the development of the country’s EITI work plan and report. It creates EITI-related policy and recommendations for continued improvement of reporting practices. The group meets on a regular basis to discuss issues relating to the EITI including payments reported by the government and companies, the auditing process and measures to expand EITI participation among companies and civil society in Mongolia.

Within Mongolia’s EITI National Council and MSWG, there are 20 individuals representing extraction industry companies operating in Mongolia. New members are selected every three years. Iterations of the Council and Working Group have been formed in 2006, 2009 and most recently in 2012.

Companies and Professional Associations currently serving on the National Council include:

-Mongolian Coal Association
-Mongolian National Mining Association
-Energy Resource LLC
-Erdnet Mining Corporation LLC
-Mongolrostsvetmet LLC
-Mongolyn Alt Mak LLC

-Monpolimet LLC
-Oyu Tolgoi LLC
-Petrochina Dachin Tamsag LLC
-Urmun Uul LLC

———————-

Companies and Professional Associations currently serving on the MSWG include:

-Mongolian National Mining Association

-Mongolian Geology Association
-Baganuur JSO
-Bold Tumur Yuruu Gol LLC
-Boroo Gold LLC
-Erdene Mongol LLC

-Erdes Holding LLC

-Erdenes TT JSC
-Oyu Tolgoi LLC
-PetroChina Dachin Tamsag LLC

The companies included in the National Council and MSWG are among the largest operating in Mongolia and represent interests in mineral, oil and gas extraction and exploration activities. In 2012, all were included in the 200 selected to have their reported payments reconciled with revenues reported by the government. Of them, Erdenet Mining Corporation LLC, Oyu Tolgoi LLC, Energy Resource LLC, Petro China Dachin Tamsag LLC, and Mongolyn Alk Mak LLC were the top five companies with the highest reported payments to the government. Combined together, they comprised nearly 65% of all reported payments in the reconciliation process. Expanded to the top ten companies, which represent over 80% of reported payments, seven are National Council and MSWG company representatives (top five as well as Erdenes TT JSC and Bold Tumur Yuruu Gol LLC).

Sample profiles of participating companies:

Oyu Tolgoi LLC

Since its launch in 2002, Rio Tinto has expressly supported the EITI, which aims to strengthen governance by improving transparency and accountability in the extractive sector. Oyu Tolgoi’s commitment is the latest in a series of social and environmental commitments carried forward by mine operator Rio Tinto, which is a member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, and gets an A+ Rating on the Global Reporting Initiative.

Boroo gold LLC

Centerra Gold Inc., which owns Boroo Gold, has become a Supporting Company of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, an international non-profit organization launched in 2002 at the World Summit for Sustainable Development in South Africa. It is a coalition of governments, companies, civil society, investors and international organizations. Centerra has played an active role in promoting the EITI in the Mongolia. The mines operated by the company have been among the first to sign on to the initiative, provide EITI reports and help improve EITI infrastructure in their respective countries.