During a press conference hosted by the Ministry of Mining, Minister R.Jigjid provided the following information:

-Since, we started to process exploration license applications online, we have received 926 applications. In accordance with the “Natural Resource Law”, following careful study of the applications we have approved 343 special licenses.

In addition, we have given three special licenses to Kojegobi LLc (sub-company of Areva mining) to extract uranium in “Dulaan Uul” and “Zuuvch Ovoo” districts in the Ulaanbudrakh sum of the Dornogovi Aimag. The “Dulaan Uul” reserve is estimated at 7000 tons and “Zuuvch Ovoo” at 54000 tons of uranium. The Natural Resource Authority also informed that reserve estimates may well increase following exploration.

Currently, Areva Mining (France) owns 27 special licenses of the 49 uranium exploration licenses which Mongolian Government has approved.  Of the Areva Mining licenses, 15 are in the Sukhbaatar aimag and 12 in the Dornogovi aimag.

In total, Mongolia has given five A-Licenses for the extraction of uranium. But, due to the Governmental Policy and Laws, companies must extract uranium only in the primary state to produce yellow cake.