The exploration and corporate highlights of Entrée Gold Inc. in 2009 include signing of the long-awaited Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement between the Mongolian Government and Entrée’s joint venture partner, Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. and largest shareholder, Rio Tinto; the  conversion of Entrée’s Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant exploration licenses into mining licenses; and continued exploration of Togoot coal deposits through additional drilling and the preparation of a Mongolian resource report in advance of a mining license application.
Entrée’s Hugo North Extension and Heruga deposits are key elements for consideration as the Oyu Tolgoi project advances towards production. 

Ivanhoe Mines is preparing an updated Integrated Development Plan that is expected to provide a projected timeline and work program related to the construction and completion of the Oyu Tolgoi mining complex. 

Further studies along the Oyu Tolgoi mineralized trend indicate several target areas could be drill tested in order to expand known resources. Geophysical data gathered over the areas surrounding the Heruga and Hugo North Extension deposits indicate promising trends suggesting the continuation of mineralization associated with each deposit. 

Approximately 8 km of relatively untested ground lies to north of the Hugo North Extension on the Shivee Tolgoi mining license, between the Hugo North Extension deposit and the near surface Ulaan Khud copper showing.

Exploration programs are being prepared for 2010 to seek new mineralization on Entrée’s 100%-owned western portion of the Shivee Tolgoi mining license.  Exploration was temporarily suspended in 2009 to accommodate the protracted mining license conversion process.  Entrée may now continue investigating the potential of this prospective region of Lookout Hill without facing imminent license expiry.