Gold mining company in Bornuur soum found with mercury

A working group of the State Specialized Inspecting Agency (SSIA), the Ministry of Nature, Environment and Tourism and the General Police Department has been monitoring the extent of mercury poisoning in two aimags following mining activity by individuals and companies. It has finished work in Bornuur, Sumber and Jargalant soums of Tuv aimag and is presently working in Baruunkharaa and Zuunkharaa soums of Selenge aimag.

Our journalist talks to an SSIA Specialist, N.Chinzorig.

What exactly did you study?
Our job was to determine the extent to which mercury and other poisonous chemicals had been used in the two aimags, to stoop illegal mining, and to submit a report for 2010.

Is it true that you found mercury stored by an economic entity of Bornuur soum?
We found 0.86 kg of mercury in the stocks of a gold mining company HAMO. We also found evidence of use of mercury in some places where the company worked. HAMO has been asked to stop its activity and the police are preparing a criminal case against it.

Some other irregularities were found in Jargalant soum.

Did you investigate reports of people and animals poisoned in Tunkhel soum in Selenge aimag?
Strychnine, also a poisonous substance, had earlier been found in soil and water samples but not mercury. We still have work to do and should be finished soon, when we shall reveal our findings.