Yet again, there is a long queue of trucks on the main road to China!  Mongolian drivers of the coal trucks held at press conference earlier today. According to the drivers, the traffic jam of coal trucks stretches back 140 km and they suggest travelling on alternative roads. They have submitted their demands to the Mongolian President, Prime Minister and Speaker of Parliament to improve border checkups, to change long routes to smaller ones and to develop the infrastructure of the Tsagaan Khad Border Crossing.

A year ago, there was similar situation. With the long-awaited railway connection still unfinished after investment dried up, all coal from mines in Mongolia’s South Gobi (Umnugovi) province abutting China are delivered to the border via one single highway, making it vulnerable to disruptions.

Mongolia has been China’s third-biggest source of coal imports over the first seven months of this year, with total shipments reaching 20.85 million tonnes, up 73 percent compared to last year. Gashuunsukhait Border Crossing is main transit point to transport coal from Tavan Tolgoi mine to China.