Mongolia has announced plans to carry out a national census of mineral licenses to track ownership, locations, and issuance. The decision came during the government’s regular session on August 27, 2025, highlighting the need for stronger oversight of mineral resources.
Prime Minister Zandanshatar Gombojav issued a decree to establish a Working Group responsible for implementing this initiative. The group will review the payment status of resource usage fees by license holders and propose further actions to improve compliance. Additionally, it will monitor the overall use of mineral exploitation licenses across the country.
Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Damdinyam Gongor will chair the Working Group. He will coordinate activities between relevant government agencies, ensure accurate data collection, and supervise the establishment of a national registry of mineral licenses.
Currently, Mongolia has a total of 2,741 active licenses issued by the state administrative body responsible for geology and mining. This includes 1,768 exploitation licenses and 973 exploration licenses. Authorities believe that a national census of mineral licenses will help evaluate whether these licenses are being used efficiently.
The government aims to improve transparency and strengthen resource management through sound policies. By creating a unified national registry, officials will gain a complete overview of license ownership, locations, and activity status. This step is essential to prevent misuse of mineral resources and to ensure that mining operations comply with state regulations.
Moreover, the Working Group will develop proposals to enhance license monitoring and resource usage efficiency. These proposals will focus on payment compliance, licensing procedures, and the overall sustainability of mining practices. Authorities hope this approach will increase accountability among license holders while promoting responsible resource management.
In addition, the census will allow the government to identify underutilized licenses and propose measures to maximize their economic contribution. By integrating data from all mining operations, officials can make better policy decisions and strengthen Mongolia’s mining sector.
Overall, conducting a national census of mineral licenses represents a major step toward transparent, efficient, and responsible management of the country’s mineral resources. It will provide the government with the tools to regulate mining effectively while supporting sustainable economic growth.
