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Mongolia Daily: CO alarm dispute erupts, UN picks UB for COP17, and cross‑border railway breaks ground

MongoliaDaily

Politics

Parliamentary Committee Upholds Ulaanbaatar Vehicle Tax Hike as Lawful, Seeks Oversight on Spending

Published: 2025-09-26

Parliament’s Budget Standing Committee reviewed a citizen petition to cancel Ulaanbaatar’s recent increases to vehicle taxes and road usage fees and concluded the decision by the City Council was lawful under its mandate. The approved resolution raises the vehicle tax threefold and the road usage fee fivefold, taking passenger car road fees from MNT 20,000 to MNT 100,000. The committee backed its draft resolution by 77.8% and will instruct the Government to oversee the increased revenue’s collection and use, noting Parliament cannot intervene directly in local self-governance decisions. Lawmakers voiced sharply differing views.

“People’s livelihoods are strained… then suddenly after 15 years, Mr. Kh. Nyambaatar appears and says taxes will triple—this is aggression.” - MP N. Altankhuyag (itoim.mn)

“With over 900,000 vehicle owners in the capital, how many were consulted? You can only raise taxes within the law.” - MP J. Bayasgalan (itoim.mn)

“Local governments have the right, but since this tax funds road works, the Government should conduct a comprehensive assessment and update if needed.” - MP J. Batjargal (itoim.mn)

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Economy

Stronger Dollar Lifts Import Costs as Inflation Quickens to 8.8%

Published: 2025-09-26

The tugrik weakened to MNT 3,592 per US dollar on September 25, extending roughly 5% depreciation since January and pushing above the 3,600 threshold in recent sessions. While other major currencies are relatively stable, the stronger dollar is feeding import cost pressures, amplifying an August inflation uptick to 8.8% as energy, transport and higher government outlays bite into purchasing power. GDP still expanded 5.6% in H1 2025, with industrial output reaching MNT 27.1 trillion in August on mining volumes, firmer metals prices, and external demand; agriculture and select manufacturing also contributed. The currency slide supports exporters’ revenues but strains import-reliant firms and could undermine sector stability if volatility persists. Economists warn fiscal expansion risks stoking further price pressures, underscoring the need for tighter budget discipline and prudent foreign reserve management to safeguard macro stability.

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Diplomacy

Second Mongolia–Uruguay Political Consultations Set as Ministers Meet at UNGA

Published: 2025-09-26

Foreign ministers B. Battsetseg (Mongolia) and Mario Lubetkin (Uruguay) met on September 24 on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly to review bilateral ties and set the stage for the second round of political consultations between their foreign ministries. The agenda centers on expanding trade and economic cooperation, with targeted interest in agriculture and education exchanges—sectors where both countries see complementarity. The planned consultations indicate a move to institutionalize dialogue and identify concrete projects, potentially facilitating market access for agri-products and academic partnerships. Timing alongside UNGA suggests both sides are leveraging multilateral settings to advance bilateral priorities. No new agreements were announced, but the ministers emphasized momentum in recent years and the near-term scheduling of the talks, signaling continuity in engagement between Ulaanbaatar and Montevideo.

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Infrastructure

Cross-Border Gashuunsukhait–Gantsmod Railway Construction Launches with Financing Secured

Published: 2025-09-26

Construction on the 32.6 km cross-border railway linking Gashuunsukhait (MN) and Gantsmod (CN) formally began on June 15, 2025 with drilling of the first bridge pile, following a June 9 EPC contract between Tavantolgoi Railway LLC and China Railway Construction Corporation’s Bridge Engineering Bureau Group. The dual-gauge line (1520 mm and 1435 mm) is designed for up to 40 million tons annually, featuring major bridge works, a border control complex, and associated infrastructure across eight work packages over 22 months. Geodetic benchmarks were jointly validated in early July to align Mongolian and Chinese engineering teams. A tripartite financing agreement was signed on August 22, assigning Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi JSC to fund the project while Tavantolgoi Railway oversees client supervision and CRCC executes works. The project targets significant export gains—up to 30 mtpa via this corridor—and $250–300 million in annual rail revenue, with phased construction advancing toward October milestones.

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2026 Budget to Scale Up Energy Investment and Private Participation, Cut Power Imports

Published: 2025-09-26

The government’s 2026 budget plan prioritizes energy security following a nationwide E-Mongolia consultation that ranked reliable power and heat supply just behind health and education. Authorities target a medium-term strategy to expand domestic generation, reduce import dependence, and deepen private-sector and foreign investor roles, alongside governance reforms. About MNT 3.5 trillion in energy projects are slated for 2026, including MNT 1.68 trillion from private capital and MNT 823 billion via PPPs, aiming to add 3,515 GWh of electricity and 112 MW of district heating capacity. Key projects include Erdenebüren hydropower, TPP-3 expansion, and grid works tied to new coal and regional plants. With demand rising 8–10% annually and Ulaanbaatar driving peak loads, the plan seeks to lift electrification to 99.7% and trim imports by 663 GWh, while phasing in renewables alongside flexible and baseload assets.

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Ulaanbaatar Plans 12.9 km BRT Corridor; Land Acquisition Set to Start in 2026

Published: 2025-09-26

Ulaanbaatar’s planned Bus Rapid Transit corridor will span 12.9 km with 19 stations from the west side of the State Third Central Hospital on Ard Ayush Avenue through Enkhbishiin Avenue, Ikh Toiruu, Namyangju Street, and Ikh Khuree Street to a terminus near Global School. Implemented from 2026 to 2030 with Asian Development Bank support, the line is projected to carry 25,000–35,000 passengers per day and raise road throughput by 12.6%. A key milestone—land acquisition—is scheduled to begin in 2026. City officials, including Deputy Governor T. Davaadalai, Project Director E. Tuvshinzargal, and BRT Manager T. Chinbat, met with ADB’s Mongolia operations head Chandra M. Arora to review implementation, financing, and next steps. The route links central education and business corridors, signaling a shift toward higher-capacity public transit to ease chronic congestion and improve commute reliability.

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Environment

Ulaanbaatar to Host UN Desertification COP17 in 2026, Targeting Up to $1.5 Billion for Land, Water, and Forest Initiatives

Published: 2025-09-26

Ulaanbaatar will host the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP17 from August 17–28, 2026, at the National Garden Park, drawing roughly 8,000–10,000 delegates from over 100 countries. The agenda will center on land degradation, drought resilience, and rangeland management, aligning with the UNCCD’s Land Degradation Neutrality framework and SDG 15. Organizers plan to present long-term initiatives under a “Land-Water-Forest” formula and aim to mobilize $1–1.5 billion in project financing, citing precedents: India’s $1.5 billion land restoration push at COP14, Côte d’Ivoire’s $2.5 billion “Great Green Wall” investments at COP15, and Saudi Arabia’s $12.15 billion drought-resilience partnership at COP16. Delegates will self-fund travel and local expenses, positioning the event as business tourism and injecting demand into Ulaanbaatar’s hotels, F&B, transport, and services. The UNCCD, established in 1994, now includes 197 countries and the EU.

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Ulaanbaatar Expands Gas Heating and Insulation Drive with Cash Incentive for Winter Use

Published: 2025-09-26

Ulaanbaatar will insulate 5,000 households in selected khoroos of Chingeltei and Bayangol districts and switch them to gas heating this winter as part of its air pollution reduction plan. Works are underway in Bayangol’s 11th khoroo, where 287 houses and 187 gers are slated for insulation; 60% of ger insulation and 20% of house insulation are complete. Twelve contractors are installing 10 cm foam insulation, with homes insulated in half a day. City officials aim to complete insulation by late October and connect gas systems in early November. Gas distribution will run through 22 points, with fast refills and mobile monitoring. Users who operate gas heating from Sept 15 to May 15 will receive MNT 900,000 in total support.

“We will comprehensively insulate 5,000 households to standard and transition them to gas fuel… Gas connections will be done in early November, and users will be eligible for a total incentive of MNT 900,000 if they use gas heating from September 15 to May 15.” - A. Amartuvshin, Deputy Mayor in charge of social sector, green development, and air/environmental pollution (gogo.mn)

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Innovation

Instagram Launches Auto-Safe Teen Accounts with Regulator Backing

Published: 2025-09-26

Mongolia’s Communications Regulatory Commission and Meta’s Asia-Pacific office formally introduced Instagram’s “Teen Account,” automatically applying enhanced safety settings for users aged 16 and under. Existing and new accounts identified as under-16 can shift to the teen mode, which restricts contact from unknown users, limits exposure to inappropriate content, and curbs data-sharing risks while promoting more productive, respectful use. The rollout emphasizes parental oversight, with controls activating by default once a teen’s account is registered in the dedicated category. The launch event drew students, parents, school social workers, and around 50 representatives from domestic and international organizations focused on children’s digital rights. The move aligns Mongolia’s online child-protection measures with broader regional safety standards as global platforms deepen age-appropriate design features and regulatory cooperation.

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Health

Spike in Carbon Monoxide Incidents Triggers Dispute Over Death Toll and Rapid Rollout of “Smart” Detectors

Published: 2025-09-26

Ulaanbaatar authorities reported a sharp rise in carbon monoxide (CO) incidents early in the heating season, with 49 calls and 152 people affected since September 1. The National Center for Public Health (NCPH) initially said five people died this month from CO poisoning, citing daily hospital data. City officials countered that only three deaths were CO-related, while two resulted from fire smoke, underscoring data coordination gaps. Officials attribute most cases to residents removing chimneys during rain and poor stove maintenance; 38 of 49 affected households lacked detectors. City Hall is accelerating installation of smart CO alarms for all 172,000 coal-burning households, with a 6.5 billion MNT budget and centralized response via the Hotula app. 2023 saw over 3,000 CO-related treatments and 61 deaths; 31 deaths were recorded nationwide in January–September 2024.

“Since September, Ulaanbaatar has recorded 49 CO-related calls involving 152 people; three deaths were CO poisoning, while two were due to fire smoke.” - D. Munkhbaatar, Head of City Air and Environmental Pollution Office (eagle.mn)

“We will equip all coal-burning households with smart CO detectors linked to a unified system to dispatch rapid response within 5–7 minutes.” - A. Amartuvshin, Deputy Mayor of Ulaanbaatar (eagle.mn)

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