National Statistical Office (NSO) jointly
with Switzerland Development Agency started to count private miners.

In 2000 mining sector has only 13
percent in Mongolian economy, now this figure reach one fourth. But many people
exploring minerals individually, which Mongolians called ninja. “Companied who
engaged in mining sector has registration and certain surveys conducted time to
time by different organizations. But we don’t have exact number of private
miners. Some figure says 15-20 thousand private miners exploring minerals in
mining sector” said B.Badamtsetseg, head of Macroeconomic statistics department
of NSO.   

According to the B.Badamtsetseg
miners received information on counting unfriendly. “They afraid to be
registered officially because of tax issue. I’m say, this just for collect statistics
and counting going very confidential. Collected figures will used for define
policy” said B.Badamtsetseg.

Right now around 8000 private miners
are counted.