Politics
Parliament and Ulaanbaatar Council Schedule September 14 Budget Sessions
Published: 2026-09-13
Parliamentary party groups and the HUN Party council are scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. on September 14, followed by the Economic Standing Committee at 11 a.m., the Budget Standing Committee at 1 p.m. and a plenary session at 4 p.m. The committees and plenary are set to conduct the second reading of proposed amendments to the 2026 state budget, National Wealth Fund budget, Social Insurance Fund budget and Health Insurance Fund budget. Separately, the Ulaanbaatar Citizens’ Representatives Khural will hold its 14th extraordinary session at 9 a.m. to consider the capital’s 2025 budget execution, 2027 development plan, refinancing of foreign securities, possible domestic securities, land-management plan changes and a proposed 2026 privatization list. Parliament’s regular autumn session is legally scheduled to open on September 15.
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School Funding Allegation Puts Prime Minister Uchral Under Scrutiny
Published: 2026-09-13
A proposed MNT 3.5 billion allocation to schools linked to Prime Minister Nyam-Osor Uchral’s family has become a focus of debate during parliamentary consideration of the 2026 budget amendment. Reports identified Ikh Zasag Kings School, registered to his mother J. Tsetsegmaa, alongside Shine Sana and Imperial schools. Education Ministry State Secretary T. Nyam-Ochir initially said the schools had submitted a cooperation request, then withdrew that explanation. Uchral denied that family-linked schools sought state funding and referred the matter to the Anti-Corruption Agency, which has begun an inquiry.
“No school linked to my family submitted a request for state funding.” - Nyam-Osor Uchral (news.mn)
His 2025 asset declaration also reported personal income of MNT 196.1 million, family income of MNT 83.2 million, real estate valued at MNT 4.28 billion, and MNT 2.73 billion in cash and deposits.
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Budget Amendment Stalls as Parliamentary Committees Fail to Meet
Published: 2026-09-13
Parliament’s special session, scheduled for September 7 to 14, has not completed the second reading of Mongolia’s 2026 budget amendment because the Economic Standing Committee and Budget Standing Committee have not convened. Budget Standing Committee Chair N. Naranbaatar said his committee could not meet before the Economic Standing Committee completed its second-reading work. Economic Standing Committee Chair B. Zayaabal was absent on leave during the session’s first week. The 32-member committee requires 17 members for a quorum. The MPP and DP parliamentary groups have blamed each other for the absence of members. Parliament’s regular autumn session is legally due to open on September 15, leaving lawmakers little time to complete the amendment before the new session begins.
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Prime Minister and Justice Minister Clash Over Alleged Police Pressure
Published: 2026-09-13
Prime Minister N. Uchral and Justice and Home Affairs Minister S. Amarsaikhan exchanged public statements after B. Bulnai, described in reports as a shamanic practitioner, posted a video and allegations on social media. The video reportedly shows a police lieutenant colonel visiting a private residence and invoking the justice minister’s name while allegedly pressuring the resident. Uchral said the allegation could not be ignored, while Amarsaikhan rejected it as a smear campaign and said he would give a public briefing with documentation after returning from an official trip to western Mongolia. The dispute has highlighted tensions within the Mongolian People’s Party (MPP), according to the reports.
“I cannot simply turn a blind eye to such an overt case.” - N. Uchral (news.mn)
“It is time to discuss what happened, when it happened and how it unfolded, based on evidence.” - S. Amarsaikhan (news.mn)
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Economy
Oyu Tolgoi Agreements Cut Rio Tinto Interest and Management Fees
Published: 2026-09-13
Amendments to the principal shareholders’ agreements have formally confirmed the results of negotiations involving Oyu Tolgoi LLC, board member E. Mendtuvshin said. The negotiations began in August 2025 and resulted in reductions to payments made to Rio Tinto. The total interest rate on loans paid by Oyu Tolgoi LLC was about 12 percent in 2024 and is now 7.9 percent, Mendtuvshin said. The management-services fee paid to Rio Tinto was reduced from 6 percent to 3.95 percent. He said the amendments incorporated the terms into the parties’ agreements through the legal process. Mendtuvshin also said further work is needed to strengthen oversight of Mongolia’s resources and build stable, professional institutions independent of politics.
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AI-92 Fuel Imports Reach 24,000 Tonnes in First 11 Days of September
Published: 2026-09-13
Mongolia imported 24,000 tonnes of AI-92 fuel during the first 11 days of September, according to D. Davaabayar, head of the Petroleum Products Department at the Mineral Resources and Petroleum Authority. The reported volume corresponds to about 2,400 tonnes per day over 10 days. As of last Friday, the country had 92 rail wagons, or 5,520 tonnes, of AI-92 fuel nationwide, Davaabayar said. Of that amount, 41 wagons, equivalent to 2,460 tonnes, had been unloaded into storage facilities. The figures provide an official snapshot of imports, rail deliveries and stored AI-92 fuel during the first half of September; the report did not provide comparative import volumes, consumption data, or a forecast for subsequent deliveries.
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Beef Prices Reach MNT 35,724 per Kilogram
Published: 2026-09-13
National Statistics Office data as of September 7 show higher meat and diesel prices. Boneless beef sold for MNT 35,724 per kilogram, while bone-in mutton cost MNT 26,342, bone-in horse meat MNT 18,464, and bone-in goat meat MNT 20,984. Compared with the previous week, diesel prices rose 14.0 percent, bone-in mutton increased 1.6 percent, bone-in beef rose 0.6 percent, and boneless beef increased 0.5 percent. Some staple produce became cheaper over the same period: carrot prices fell 4.8 percent and potato prices declined 4.0 percent. The figures provide a weekly snapshot of food and fuel costs reported by the national statistics agency.
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Housing Prices Rise 7.2 Percent Year on Year in August
Published: 2026-09-13
The housing price index (2023.I=1.0) reached 1.45 in August 2026, up 7.2 percent from a year earlier and 2.5 percent from July, according to the latest data. By housing age, new-home prices rose 5.1 percent year on year, while prices for existing homes increased 8.1 percent. From July, new-home prices gained 2.2 percent and existing-home prices rose 2.4 percent. The average price of new housing was MNT 4.77 million per square meter, with Sukhbaatar District highest at MNT 5.51 million. Existing homes averaged MNT 4.78 million per square meter, and Sukhbaatar District again recorded the highest average, at MNT 5.82 million.
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Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi Sells 896,000 Tonnes of Coal in Five Days
Published: 2026-09-13
Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi reported nine successful coal trades through the Mongolian Stock Exchange between September 7 and 11, totaling 896,000 tonnes. Separately, the company reported a total transaction value of USD 97.7 million. The listed trades included medium-volatile coking coal and thermal coal, in lots ranging from 32,000 to 256,000 tonnes. Thermal coal accounted for several of the larger lots, including a 256,000-tonne transaction valued at USD 18.8 million. The listed nine transaction values include USD 12.8 million, USD 9.46 million and USD 6.14 million figures, among others. Since the start of 2026, Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi reported 246 trades involving 15.9 million tonnes of coal with a total value of USD 1.5 billion.
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Infrastructure
Western Provinces Face Power Restrictions Without Transmission Upgrade
Published: 2026-09-13
Electricity supplies to Uvs, Khovd and Bayan-Olgii provinces could be restricted unless capacity is increased on the S-458 overhead transmission line importing power from Russia, officials said during a winter-preparedness visit to Ulaangom substation on September 12. The 110 kV single-circuit line, commissioned in 1995 with installed capacity of 40 MW, is operating at its agreed 50 MW limit; emergency capacity is 55 MW under an arrangement with Tuva Energy. Officials also identified ageing 10 MVA transformers at Ulaangom substation, which have not been replaced in 31 years. They proposed increasing transformer capacity from 2x10 MVA to 2x25 MVA and replacing current transformers to support demand and planned industrial, recycling and technology facilities in Ulaangom.
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Ulaanbaatar Unveils Urban Plan for Power, Roads and Public Transport
Published: 2026-09-13
Ulaanbaatar Governor B. Purevdagva presented the New Generation Ulaanbaatar policy, which combines infrastructure, transport, public-service and environmental projects. Construction of Thermal Power Plant No. 5 is 16 percent complete, while the Dambadarjaa heating plant is 70 percent complete. The city is installing six kilometers of Tuul-1 collector pipeline and plans a 50-hectare Selbe five-tier reservoir complex. It has completed 23.4 kilometers of new roads, 74.4 kilometers of carryover roads and 33.6 kilometers of repairs, with 158.8 kilometers more planned. The policy also calls for five multilevel intersections, 60 electric high-capacity buses, 50 school buses and 46 medium-capacity buses. A Sky Shuttle feasibility study is due in December, with the line targeted to open within two years.
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Society
Police Detain Suspect in Alleged Rape of Foreign Hiker in Bayan-Olgii
Published: 2026-09-13
Police in Bayan-Olgii Province have detained a suspect while investigating the alleged rape of a foreign woman travelling in Nogoonnuur soum. A report that a foreign national had been raped in Nogoonnuur soum was registered on September 10. According to the General Police Department, the woman was hiking on September 9 when she accepted a ride in another person’s vehicle and stayed overnight at a household. The General Police Department said officers are documenting circumstances indicating an intoxicated individual allegedly raped her during that stay. Police identified and detained a person in the case, which remains under investigation. The case is being investigated by provincial police.
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Overseas Population Reaches 201,350 in 2025 Census
Published: 2026-09-13
Mongolia’s 2025 interim population and housing census counted 201,350 citizens living abroad, a 64.6 percent increase from the previous census. The figures point to growing outward migration, concentrated unevenly across age groups. People aged 15 to 39 accounted for 59.5 percent of citizens abroad in 2025, indicating that younger and working-age people make up most of the overseas population. The number of citizens aged 15 to 19 living overseas rose 2.7 times compared with the prior census, which the report links to increased migration for education. Growth among people aged 55 and older also remained comparatively high.
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Environment
Published: 2026-09-13
Mongolia has prepared to begin a month-long vaccination campaign against SAT-1 and O strains of foot-and-mouth disease from September 12 in eight central and eastern areas. The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry procured 2.4 million vaccine doses and delivered them to local authorities on September 11. The campaign is planned to cover 2.6 million cattle, pigs and small livestock in Selenge, Darkhan-Uul, Orkhon, Ulaanbaatar, Khentii, Sukhbaatar and Dornod, with some soums included for small livestock. Food, Agriculture and Light Industry Minister Ts. Iderbat said preparations had been completed. Vaccinations in the remaining provinces will be organized after financing is approved through a budget amendment expected the following week.
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