Minerals exploration licenses to be granted in April

The government has confirmed that it has resumed the process of granting special exploration licenses, and that licenses will be issued in April for a total of 1.6 million hectares of land.

Work has already commenced in accordance with approved selection procedures. The land available for exploration represents 20.9 percent of the country's territory.

Of the 3,546 special licenses already granted, 44.4 percent are for conducting mining operations and 55.6 percent are for exploration. Thirty-four percent of the operational licenses and 55.7 percent of of the exploration licenses have been issued to gold mining companies.

The Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry also reports that plans for new copper exploration are primarily for projects located in northern Mongolia.