Source: Onoodor                  Date: 05 August, 2010

Mr. George Lkhagvadorj Tumur, Managing Director of Australia-based Hunnu Coal that mines coal in Mongolia, has said that despite mining being such an important sector in the Mongolian economy, there are many who do not realize how difficult it is, in both the exploration and excavation phases. “They think the country will get rich just by  digging deposits out of the earth, but it is not so easy,” he says, while asserting that the expected expansion of mining in Mongolia would certainly lead to widespread development and improve the general standard of living.

The improvement will be felt not only by people directly involved in mining, but also by many others who provide various direct or indirect services to them. A completely new city arose around the Erdenet mines, and similar things will happen with Oyu Tolgoi and Tavan Tolgoi. “Nobody in Mongolia ever dreamed of moving to Umnugobi for a new life, but that is what thousands are going to do now,” he said.