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Mongolia Daily: Oyu Tolgoi dividends planned, Gobi power deal won, and fuel deliveries lag

MongoliaDaily

Politics

MPP Factions Clash Over Education Minister’s Future

Published: 2026-09-24

Divisions within the ruling MPP (Mongolian People’s Party) persisted after representatives of a group described as the 30 faction met Prime Minister and party leader Uchral on September 23. The group had withheld parliamentary attendance for several days, leaving plenary and standing-committee meetings without a quorum. The sides earlier agreed to restore quorum for G. Temuulen’s appointment and oath as justice and home affairs minister, without considering the 2026 budget amendment or other business. Reports said the 30 faction sought the dismissal of Education and Science Minister L. Enkh-Amgalan and raised an ethics dispute involving female lawmakers. Separately, Enkh-Amgalan said he would investigate a missing Excel file from the ministry before apologizing if necessary. Tug.mn reported that Uchral firmly opposed dismissal, while News.mn said he gave no definite response and that the 38 side opposed it. MP N. Altanshagai said Uchral directed party control and ethics committees to review the ethics matter.

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Parliament Sets September 25 Agenda as Budget Committees Face Delays

Published: 2026-09-24

The State Great Khural will not hold a plenary sitting on September 24 but is scheduled to convene at 10:00 on September 25. Its agenda includes government-submitted bills to ratify International Labour Organization Convention No. 81 on labour inspection in industry and commerce and Convention No. 129 on labour inspection in agriculture; both were submitted on June 18. Lawmakers will also consider whether to debate MP B. Purevdorj’s July 2 bill amending the law on rehabilitating victims of political repression and providing compensation, with 60 minutes allocated for questions. Parliamentary standing committees were scheduled to discuss the 2026 budget revision and 2027 budget on September 24, but none had started by 14:00 because quorum had not been reached.

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Court Extends S. Molor-Erdene’s Detention in National Unity Case

Published: 2026-09-24

A district court has rejected a defense request to change the preventive measure imposed on philosopher S. Molor-Erdene, leaving him in pretrial detention while the investigation continues. The Capital City Prosecutor’s Office sought an extension under Article 19.9(1) of the Criminal Code, which concerns acts aimed at undermining national unity. On September 24, the court reviewed 26 pages of prosecution materials, along with a six-page request and eight pages of documents submitted by the defense. It cited information indicating risks including flight, harm to people, health or property, interference with evidence, concealment or falsification of materials, or further criminal activity. The detention period was extended by one month beginning September 30, 2026.

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Economy

Fuel Delivery Delays Prompt Appeal to Conserve Gasoline

Published: 2026-09-24

Fuel distributors faced distribution delays after transport from Russia declined for two days, the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources said on September 24. State Secretary B. Dashpurev said Mongolia had contracted sufficient September supplies from Russia, China and South Korea and that deliveries were continuing, but volumes from Russia were 25,000 tonnes below expectations. About 50 railcars arrive daily, he said, enough for normal consumption but not to build larger reserves. China has supplied 8,000 tonnes of AI-92 gasoline, while further imports from China and South Korea are being arranged. Referring to reports of queues, Dashpurev urged residents not to form large precautionary lines and to use public transport. AI-92 prices have not risen; an October pricing decision is due September 25.

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New Investment Rules Set 30-Day Complaint Deadline

Published: 2026-09-24

Mongolia’s Investment and Trade Agency says new investment rules now require it to process investor complaints within 30 days, as a broader package of legal changes took effect on August 31. The amendments, approved July 3 under the Economic Freedom Law, revised the Investment Law, the Permits Law and 89 related laws, according to Deputy Prime Minister’s adviser G. Javkhlantugs. He said customs-duty exemptions that previously went unused are now being applied to equipment for investment in renewable energy and data centers, alongside eligible construction, innovation and technology activities. The agency’s director, B. Zandan, said it has received three complaints since the law took effect and assumed nine complaints filed this year with the Ministry of Economy and Development. The mechanism addresses alleged unlawful action or inaction by public bodies, not disputes between private firms.

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Oyu Tolgoi Dividend Plan Would Start in 2027

Published: 2026-09-24

The government plans to begin receiving dividends from Oyu Tolgoi in 2027 rather than 2037 and has included a projected MNT 3 trillion payment in its 2027 budget, Finance Minister Z. Mendsaikhan said on September 24. He said a negotiating team had agreed changes to the shareholders’ agreement with Rio Tinto, and that the company’s chief executive had confirmed the intention to pay dividends to Mongolia. A bilateral working group must still determine how the 2027 dividend will be calculated after Oyu Tolgoi’s 2026 financial statements are released. The government proposes depositing MNT 1 trillion in individual accounts in the Citizens’ Savings Fund and using MNT 2 trillion to increase current budget spending, including pensions and civil-service wages. Other proposed uses include 10 percent loans for small and medium businesses, mortgages, energy and infrastructure. A one-off law is planned to govern spending because the revenue is not considered permanent.

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ADB Raises Inflation Forecast While Keeping Growth Outlook Steady

Published: 2026-09-24

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) kept its forecast for economic growth at 5.7% in 2026 and 6.0% in 2027, unchanged from its July outlook. It raised its inflation forecasts to 10.7% for 2026 from 7.8%, and to 8.3% for 2027 from 6.8%, citing higher meat, fuel and service prices. The ADB said mining growth and an agricultural recovery will support 2026 growth, while manufacturing and trade remain subdued. It expects continued mining expansion and investment-oriented reforms to support growth in 2027. Tax relief and pension reform are expected to increase household consumption. Fuel supply disruptions remain a near-term risk to prices and economic activity.

“The economy continues to grow rapidly, but it remains heavily dependent on mining.” - John Juhyon Jeong (gogo.mn)

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Coal Deliveries to China Lift Country Past Russia in August

Published: 2026-09-24

Mongolia supplied 9.81 million tonnes of coal to China in August 2026, surpassing Russia’s 9.2 million tonnes and becoming China’s second-largest coal supplier after Indonesia, which delivered 14.42 million tonnes. Figures cited by Sxcoal from China’s General Administration of Customs show that Mongolia exported 78.39 million tonnes to China in the first eight months of 2026, up 48.9% from the same period a year earlier. Russian supplies fell 10.8% to 53.15 million tonnes. Mongolia’s position is supported by zero tariffs in China and shorter transport distances. Russian coal faces Chinese import duties of 3% to 6%, constrained eastern rail capacity and higher sea freight costs from Vostochny port.

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Subsidized Mortgage Queue Reaches Seven to Eight Years

Published: 2026-09-24

Mortgage loan applications under Mongolia’s subsidized housing program totaled MNT 7.9 trillion as of September 18, creating an estimated waiting list of seven to eight years at current annual funding levels, according to Bank of Mongolia Domestic Market Operations Department director B. Munkhzul. The government plans to raise MNT 1.8 trillion, equivalent to USD 500 million, with the private sector in 2027 and transfer it to the central bank. It estimates that about 16,000 people could access subsidized loans, co-ownership or rent-to-own housing, while 20,000 completed apartments and 45,000 applicant households are currently unmatched. The 2027 draft budget sets aside MNT 198 billion for mortgages. The central bank also plans an online system so applicants can see their queue position and is considering tiered interest rates.

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Government Targets USD 5.5 Billion in Annual FDI by 2028

Published: 2026-09-24

The government decided on September 23 to submit Mongolia’s first standalone Public Investment Management Law to parliament. Budget investment management is currently governed through provisions in other laws rather than a dedicated legal framework. Officials said the proposed law would establish unified policy and regulation for public investment, support projects for national and regional development, and improve the quality and access of public services. At the same cabinet meeting, Deputy Prime Minister T. Dorjkhand presented a 2026-2028 action plan to attract, retain and support investment. The plan aims to raise annual foreign direct investment inflows to USD 5.5 billion by 2028. Its initial measures focus on creating a more favorable legal environment, developing the investment-attraction system and strengthening institutional capacity.

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Ulaanbaatar Plans Proposal to Cut Its 2 Percent City Tax

Published: 2026-09-24

Ulaanbaatar officials said they will submit a proposal to reduce the capital city’s 2 percent tax to the Citizens’ Representatives Khural for discussion. The announcement followed a meeting between council chair D. Ikhbayar, Mayor B. Purevdavaa and representatives of hospitality, tourism and food-production businesses. The measure forms part of the city’s designation of 2026 as its Year to Support Entrepreneurs. Under the current arrangement, purchasers pay the tax on goods and services specified by law, while sellers collect it and remit it to the budget. Officials said a lower rate would reduce the tax paid by consumers and support consumption. The city has also removed 103 permit-related registrations for businesses through its “Let’s Liberate” initiative and said it will expand public-private partnerships while avoiding state provision of services that private firms can deliver.

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Prosecutors Register 52 Violations in Banking, Finance and Insurance

Published: 2026-09-24

Prosecutors had registered 52 administrative violations involving banking, financial and insurance institutions as of September 21, 2026. Their review covered breaches of the Banking Law, the Law on Regulating Money Lending Activities, the Securities Market Law, the Insurance Law, and the Law on Combating Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing. Article 11.29 of the Law on Violations sets penalties for noncompliance with anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism-financing requirements, intended to prevent criminal proceeds from entering circulation or being used unlawfully. The law identifies 22 acts or omissions by individuals and legal entities as violations. This year, authorities examined and penalized four violations in four categories; last year, they investigated and sanctioned 25 violations across five categories.

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Bank Loan Balance Reaches MNT 48.4 Trillion in August

Published: 2026-09-24

Mongolia’s total outstanding bank loans reached MNT 48.4 trillion in August 2026, up 14.3% from a year earlier, according to the Bank of Mongolia. Business lending grew 17.9% year on year, while mortgage loans, including loans transferred to the Mongolian Mortgage Corporation, rose 18.8%. Growth in consumer and deposit-secured loans slowed to 4.7%, contributing to a deceleration in overall annual loan growth over the past 18 months. Non-performing loans accounted for 5.3% of the total loan portfolio, while loans requiring special attention represented 2.5%. The share of special-attention loans fell by 2 percentage points, and the non-performing-loan share remained stable. The figures indicate continued expansion in business lending alongside slower consumer credit growth.

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Consumer Confidence Drops Below Neutral Level in Second Quarter

Published: 2026-09-24

Mongolia’s consumer confidence index fell to 90.6 in the second quarter of 2026, down 16.6 points from 107.2 in the first quarter and 8.3 points below the same period a year earlier. An index above 100 indicates relatively positive expectations, while a reading below 100 signals predominantly negative sentiment. Average monthly nominal wages rose 3.1% quarter on quarter to MNT 3.03 million, but the real-wage index declined 1.8%. National inflation reached 12.5% in August, with food prices up 21.5% and meat and meat-product prices up 48.4%. Demand for durable goods stood at 36.9%, down 1.2 points from the previous quarter and 11 points year on year, indicating greater caution over major purchases.

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Diplomacy

Ukrainian Project Reports Citizens of Mongolia Among Captured Russian Troops

Published: 2026-09-24

Ukraine’s government-run “I Want to Live” project reported that citizens of Mongolia were among foreign nationals captured while serving in the Russian military in Ukraine. The project said non-Russian citizens account for 10% of Russian troops currently held captive in Ukraine and represent 55 nationalities. It also said the number of foreign nationals captured by Ukraine during the first nine months of 2026 exceeded the total recorded during all of 2025. According to the project, newly captured foreign nationals include citizens of Argentina, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Honduras, Vietnam and Mongolia. The report identifies nationality among captives but provides no number of Mongolian citizens or further details about their individual circumstances.

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President Announces 2048-49 UN Security Council Bid

Published: 2026-09-24

President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh announced Mongolia’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2048-49 during the general debate of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York. Mongolia has never served on the council and is among 58 UN member states yet to do so. The bid draws on its participation in multilateral initiatives, its nuclear-weapon-free status and the deployment of more than 23,000 military and police personnel to UN peacekeeping and other international operations since 2002. Khurelsukh also met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, reaffirming support for the UN-80 initiative and discussing cooperation on peacekeeping, sustainable development and the planned 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. Guterres praised Mongolia’s contributions and expressed support for expanded cooperation.

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US Ambassador Raises Concerns Over Religious Permits

Published: 2026-09-24

US Ambassador Richard L. Buangan raised concerns about barriers that religious organizations face in obtaining legal operating permits in a statement after the US Embassy’s ninth Interfaith Roundtable in Ulaanbaatar. The annual forum has brought religious organizations together for open discussion since 2016. He said the decision suspending new permits for religious activity remains in force. Some organizations had permits revoked this year without sufficient grounds, he said, and others faced scrutiny beyond routine legal inspections. Buangan said unresolved legal and judicial processes had sometimes worsened the situation. The embassy said it would continue advocating for equal implementation of religious-activity permits and raise the issue at senior levels in Ulaanbaatar and Washington.

“If a church or temple of one faith cannot worship freely, this is not only its problem; it is a challenge to every citizen’s freedom of religion and belief.” - Richard L. Buangan (gogo.mn)

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Infrastructure

Consortium Wins Auction to Supply Gobi Mines With Renewable Power

Published: 2026-09-24

The Ministry of Energy selected a consortium of Net Zero Tech LLC, MCS International LLC and Inner Mongolia Electric Power International Cooperation LLC to develop a renewable-energy supply project for mines in the Gobi region. The consortium offered a tariff of US$0.079 per kilowatt-hour in the September 24 auction. Ten companies initially expressed interest, but two bidders met the qualification requirements and posted deposits. The project requires a technical solution capable of supplying power with 99.5 percent reliability. The winning private consortium is expected to finance, build and commission the facility within two years, with annual output reported at 1.3-1.7 billion kilowatt-hours. Its maximum connection capacity is 530 MW: 260 MW of solar and wind power would connect to the Oyu Tolgoi substation and 270 MW to the Zes-Oyu substation. Oyu Tolgoi currently imports an average 1.6 billion kilowatt-hours annually from Inner Mongolia; that supply contract ends in 2030.

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Car-Free Day and Night Marathon Bring Ulaanbaatar Road and Bus Changes

Published: 2026-09-24

Ulaanbaatar will hold its 14th Car-Free Day on September 26, alongside the first Night Marathon Ulaanbaatar 2026. Vehicle restrictions will apply in designated areas from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., while the night race will run from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. over 5 km, 10 km and 21 km distances. Roads around Sukhbaatar Square, the Emart intersection, 120 Myangat, Marshal Bridge and the National Amusement Park cycle path will be affected. Electric scooters, mopeds and Sur-Ron electric vehicles will also be barred from the Car-Free Day zone. Routes for 448 vehicles on 43 public-transport lines will change temporarily, and three night bus routes will operate until 2:00 a.m.

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Committee Supports Talks on Japanese Loan for Airport Expansion

Published: 2026-09-24

Parliament’s Economic Standing Committee has backed consultations on draft exchange notes between the governments of Mongolia and Japan and a proposed loan agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency for expansion of Chinggis Khaan International Airport. The proposed financing would provide up to 158.284 billion yen at 1.1% annual interest, Finance Minister Z. Mendsaikhan said. Repayment would include a 10-year grace period on principal. Government representatives told lawmakers the project would add 81,900 square metres to the airport and is planned for completion in 2034. Members raised questions about the expansion’s scale, timeline, delayed domestic flights and air-transport issues. The committee endorsed further consultation with support from 59.4% of members present.

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Westbound Road Lane to Close Between Mirage Center and Geological Laboratory

Published: 2026-09-24

The westbound carriageway from the Mirage service center in the 21st khoroo of Songino Khairkhan District to the Central Geological Laboratory will be temporarily closed on September 24. Traffic restrictions are scheduled from 06:00 until 23:00 while crews carry out cleaning work and apply colored asphalt-concrete surfacing. The notice identifies the closure as applying to the westbound direction only, rather than the full road. Drivers using this section should account for the 17-hour restriction when planning trips through the area. The work is part of road-surface maintenance activity on the route connecting the Mirage service center and the Central Geological Laboratory. The report does not give a designated detour or state whether the schedule will change.

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Fuel Buyers Warned Against Sharing Identity Card Copies

Published: 2026-09-24

Tavantolgoi Fuel Company has warned residents not to leave copies or allow phone photographs of their national identity cards to be taken by others. The company said cases have emerged in which copies or phone photographs of identity cards were used under the pretext of making deliveries to buy compressed fuel in another person’s name. This can leave the cardholder unable to obtain fuel. Compressed fuel is being sold at 446 outlets across Ulaanbaatar’s seven districts using the Hotula application and a national identity card. Buyers may use the Hotula app, but must also bring their physical identity card to a sales point. The company advised residents not to leave identity-card copies with anyone or allow photographs to be taken, to prevent their information from being leaked and fuel being bought in their name.

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Geology Center Underpass Road Set to Open October 30

Published: 2026-09-24

Traffic on the road section of a new railway underpass near the Geology Center Laboratory in Bayangol District’s 20th Khoroo is scheduled to open on October 30. The project is 61.3 percent complete and will connect Uildverchnii Street with Erchim Khuch Street through 1.48 kilometers of road and two underpasses, each five meters high and 28 meters long. The structures will pass beneath the Ulaanbaatar Railway and a branch rail line serving Thermal Power Plant No. 4. China Tiesiju Civil Engineering Group is the contractor. Project director M. Zolboo said land-acquisition and related court disputes had delayed construction, but land clearance is now complete. The scheme includes pedestrian and cycling routes, bridges, landscaping and drainage, and is designed to carry about 31,000 vehicles daily, easing pressure on the Sonsgolon and Gurvaljin bridges.

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City Orders Timely Completion of Emeelt Industrial Park Power Plant

Published: 2026-09-24

Ulaanbaatar Mayor B. Purevdavaa has instructed the contractor to complete the thermal power plant and wastewater-treatment facility for the Emeelt Eco Industrial Park on schedule and to the required quality standard. The project is being developed in the capital’s Khan-Uul District, khoroo 20, to relocate livestock-raw-material factories from the city’s built-up central area, add value to animal-origin raw materials and support export-oriented production. Groundbreaking for the power plant and treatment facility took place on September 21. During a meeting with Zhang Zhicheng, vice president of contractor Hua Zi Technology LLC, the mayor called for the full designs to be submitted for urgent review. He also directed the contractor to begin work under the approved schedule and increase available personnel, machinery and equipment for construction.

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Myangad Solar Project Reaches 40% Completion

Published: 2026-09-24

Construction of the Myangad Nar project in Myangad soum, Khovd Province, has reached 40% completion. The project includes a 19.8 MW solar power plant and a 4 MW/8 MWh battery energy-storage facility, financed by the Asian Development Bank and the Climate Fund. Between 90 and 95 people are working at the site, with local residents accounting for 56% of the workforce. Construction is scheduled for completion in January 2027, followed by handover to the state commission in February. Khovd Governor M. Amarsanaa said equipment and cargo required for construction have faced delays at border and customs checkpoints. The plant is intended to expand Khovd’s solar-generation capacity and store electricity for later use.

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Online Registration for Rent-to-Own Homes Opens October 10

Published: 2026-09-24

The Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing is preparing online registration from October 10 for eligible residents seeking rent-to-own homes or subsidized mortgages. The first allocation will cover 1,008 apartments in the Green Lake complex, built with a Chinese government grant, and 2,042 completed apartments in the Solongo 1 and 2 project under a Mongolia-South Korea agreement. Elderly people, persons with disabilities and young families are among the targeted groups. Applicants will be scored out of 100, with the highest-scoring candidates selected first. The ministry also plans to relocate households that have released land in seven sites across four Ulaanbaatar districts into completed apartments by year-end.

“About 24,000 state-financed apartments at nine locations in the capital will be completed in 2026, 2027 and 2028.” - E. Bat-Amgalan (gogo.mn)

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Society

Prosecutors Continue Investigating 71 Housing Pre-Sale Fraud Cases

Published: 2026-09-24

The General Prosecutor’s Office said 71 cases involving alleged fraud through housing pre-sale contracts remain under investigation. A nationwide review identified 173 cases involving 76 individuals and 89 legal entities, with alleged losses of MNT 211.1 billion affecting 2,779 people; 93% of the cases were in Ulaanbaatar. Sources differ on whether 102 cases have been resolved or are still being resolved. Prosecutors issued indictments in 20 cases involving 33 defendants and alleged losses of MNT 62.9 billion, and transferred 12 cases to court. Investigators recovered MNT 5.9 billion for 102 victims, restricted transfers of 372 assets valued at MNT 42.2 billion, and froze MNT 1.7 billion. In a separate case, police said a suspect used AI-generated project materials to market a proposed Nalaikh housing development.

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Prosecutors Report Drug Cases Sent to Court Rise 33 Percent

Published: 2026-09-24

As of September 2026, prosecutors had charged 398 people in cases involving two drug- and psychotropic-substance offenses: illegal use of narcotic and psychotropic substances, and providing premises for their use. They sent 184 cases involving 270 people to court. Prosecutors reported that this was 33 percent higher than in the same period of 2025. The prosecutor’s office said it has regularly studied crime patterns, case resolution and contributing conditions, coordinating with the intelligence service and the Anti-Drug Department. A May 13 joint meeting addressed improving the quality and effectiveness of investigations and ensuring consistent implementation of criminal law, with results assessed quarterly. Among those charged, 52 percent were aged 18 to 30, 44 percent were 31 to 44, and 15 percent were women.

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Authorities Warn of Scam Calls That Mimic Official Numbers

Published: 2026-09-24

The Prosecutor General’s Office has warned that scammers are making calls appear to come from police and prosecutorial offices, a technique internationally known as “caller ID spoofing.” Callers have told people that MNT 320 million was being illegally circulated through their Khan Bank accounts and that suspects had been arrested at their homes. They have also said people may be victims of fraud because large transactions passed through their accounts, and that assets need to be seized or frozen. The callers then urge targets to transfer money to another account or an alleged institutional account, claiming it will be safe. Authorities advised people to check whether suspicious calls are genuine, including calls claiming that a verification code has been sent to access their information, and not to transfer money to accounts provided by callers.

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Police Detain Suspect Over AI-Generated Housing Project Scam

Published: 2026-09-24

Police detained a suspect identified as D in Bayanzurkh District over an alleged scheme involving a proposed 140-home housing development in Nalaikh District. Investigators say the suspect operated online pages that used artificial intelligence to create images, presentations, videos and advertising materials for the project. Preliminary findings indicate that 11 people paid a combined MNT 500 million as housing reservation fees. Police also say the suspect signed reservation contracts with 120 people worth MNT 3.6 billion while preparing for further alleged fraud. The suspect had reportedly fled in 2024 while already under investigation. Police advised buyers to verify whether a company and project are genuinely underway, as well as land rights, construction rights, permits, certificates and other relevant documents, before making payments based solely on online advertising or project images.

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Police Investigate Alleged Burning of Three Children in Uvurkhangai

Published: 2026-09-24

Police in Uvurkhangai Province have opened an investigation after a guardian reported that three young children were allegedly burned with a heated fork. Local sources said the incident occurred in July and involved a 38-year-old man identified as B. The alleged victims are two boys aged eight and 11 and a five-year-old girl, who were reportedly burned on their arms and legs. The guardian filed the complaint on September 23, more than two months after the reported incident. Authorities are now investigating the case. The report did not establish why the complaint was delayed, noting only the possibility that the children may have been intimidated or pressured, or that another reason may have contributed.

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Environment

Rain and Wet Snow Forecast for Ulaanbaatar

Published: 2026-09-24

Ulaanbaatar is forecast to be cloudy on September 24, with light rain and wet snow, northwesterly winds of 6-11 metres per second, and daytime temperatures of 9-11 C, according to meteorological authorities. Similar conditions are expected in Baganuur and Terelj, where daytime highs are forecast at 8-10 C and 7-9 C respectively. Rain is forecast in parts of central and eastern Mongolia, while wet snow is expected in the Mongol Altai, Khangai and Khentii mountains. Forecasts differ on the individual provinces expected to receive rain. Gusts may reach 12-14 metres per second in steppe and Gobi areas. Authorities warned that high mountain passes could become slippery. Forecasts for September 25-29 show rain and wet snow in several areas, with snowstorms possible on September 27 and a broader cold spell expected from September 28.

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Bear Spotted Near Gachuurt Along Tuul River

Published: 2026-09-24

A bear has been spotted near Khar Usan Tokhoi, south of Gachuurt along the Tuul River, behind Bayanzurkh Mountain. The sighting follows several recent reports of bears in Khuvsgul, Selenge and Bulgan provinces, as well as several cases of bears entering settled areas of Ulaanbaatar since the start of 2026. The Capital City Environment Department urged people travelling in forested and mountainous areas or near riverbanks to remain alert. It advised anyone who sees a bear, tracks or other signs of its presence not to approach or follow it, and instead notify the relevant authorities. The warning applies to people using the area for travel or recreation near the city.

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Harvest Forecast Sets Grain Output at 555,300 Tonnes

Published: 2026-09-24

The preliminary harvest balance forecasts production of 555,300 tonnes of grain this year, including 497,100 tonnes of wheat, Food, Agriculture and Light Industry Minister Ts. Iderbat said. It also projects 168,200 tonnes of potatoes and 218,400 tonnes of vegetables. Harvesting remains under way rather than complete. D. Yesun-Erdene, head of the ministry’s Crop Policy Implementation Coordination Department, said grain harvesting had passed 20 percent, while potato and vegetable harvesting stood between 35 and 55 percent. He said this year’s harvest was running seven to 10 days later than in previous years. The preliminary balance sets out planned harvest amounts while harvesting continues.

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Agencies Develop Methods to Forecast Dzud Livestock Losses

Published: 2026-09-24

The National Emergency Management Agency held a September 24 discussion with the UN ADAPT project team on research methods to forecast livestock losses during dzud and identify vulnerable herder households. Researchers from the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry, the Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Geography and Geoecology, the National Statistics Office, and the Information and Research Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Environment took part. The team presented proposed methodologies for forecasting dzud-related livestock mortality at the soum level and for identifying households and migration linked to climate change and dzud. Participants were asked to develop feedback and recommendations. Drought and dzud affected about 90 percent of the country’s territory in 1999–2002, while dzud affected more than 90 percent in 2023–2024.

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