Asphalt export banned

The export of raw and half-processed natural bitumen, also known as asphalt, has been banned for five years, following Minister of Environment, Green Development and Tourism D.Oyunkhorol’s orders on April 20.

The ban was initiated to prevent overuse of the non-renewable resource, asphalt, which is primarily used for the construction of roads, pavements, sidewalks, bridges, and car parks. The ban does not apply to final products made with asphalt.

According to the Ministry of Environment, Green Development and Tourism, 2,355 tons of asphalt was exported last year. The exportation of asphalt increased rapidly when the ministry’s 2014 ban was lifted on April 2016.

Under orders from the ministry, researchers and professors of the National University of Mongolia conducted a research on the local consumption of asphalt and determined that Mongolia uses approximately more than 300 tons of clean asphalt a year. They predicted that clean asphalt is conserved in only Mongolia at 2,500 meters above sea level where it hasn’t been affected by human activities.

At present, there are over 10 companies and or- ganizations that process and produce final products using asphalt, including the Institute of General and Experimental Biology, the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, the Traditional Medicine Science, Technology and Production Corporation, the Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Tavan Us LLC, Monos Group, Baragshun Farm, and Mon-Enzim LLC.