Cabinet resolves social issues of coal transporters
The Cabinet decided to launch Parking Complex Project at Wednesday’s meeting in an effort to speed up shipping of coal from Tavan Tolgoi mine, reduce adverse impact on environment, traffic and accidents, and provide better working conditions for truck drivers.
Minister of Roads and Transportation Development J.Bat-Erdene said, “Prime Minister U.Khurelsukh visited China last week. Within the scope of the visit, the two sides discussed ways to increase the volume of coal exported to China and improve logistics for shipping coal from Tavan Tolgoi mine to Gashuunsukhait border crossing. In line with this, Cabinet decided to build a parking lot where drivers can rest in an effort to resolve their social problems and give them the opportunity to rest.”
The parking is planned for construction in Khairkhan baga of Khanbogd soum in Umnugovi Province.
“We believe that it’s necessary for miners supplying coal and companies buying coal to discuss, negotiate and resolve their logistical problems. Transport companies must have parking and ensure that they give regular salaries to drivers along with an accommodation where they can rest. Hence, Cabinet has decided to build the Parking Complex with some 10 billion MNT,” J.Bat-Erdene stated.
Cabinet believes that the new parking will tackle traffic along Tavan Tolgoi mine-Gashuunsukhait road; provide safer and healthier working condition for truck drivers, reduce accidents and risks that occur while transporting coal, mitigate adverse environmental effects caused by coal shipping and traffic.
As of April 17, over 8,700 trucks owned by 104 companies transport coal along the 239 kilometer road, stretching from Tavan Tolgoi mine to Gashuunsukhait.
Each day, 400 to 1,100 trucks pass through the Gashuunsukhait border crossing depending on the speed of customs inspection. During moderate workload, a 20 to 30 km-long queue builds up at the border but the line expands to up to 140 kilometers during peak hours. The main reason for this is drivers’ tendency to try to cut in line by going off-road or exceed the speed limit, according to officials. This is reported to have negative impacts, such as to increase the risk of traffic accident and serious injury to drivers’ health, destroy soil, damage property, cause dust, and damage the ecosystem.
Statistics show that 1,596 traffic accidents occurred along Tavan To lgoiGashuunsuk ha it route in 2016, resulting eight deaths. Last year, the number of accidents dropped to around 1,000 but seven people died.