Mongolian coal and copper concentrates exports were completely suspended over June 13-16, due to the recent surge of COVID-19 outbreak, the Ministry of Roads and Transport Development of Mongolia said recently.
With the fast spread of infections, Mongolia pays special attentions on the pandemic situation at its key check points, including Gashuunsukhait, Zamiin-Uud and Shiveekhuren, while China strengthens border controls, according to Yo. Jargalsaikhan, director of the Road Transport Policy Implementation and Coordination Department at the ministry.
China shut border crossings over June 16-20 as Mongolia's daily infections hit new highs. China imposed the similar restriction in March when a driver from Oyu Tolgoi copper mine was tested positive for the virus.
As of June 16, more than 6,000 drivers for short-haul transportation from Tsagaan Khad to Gashuunsukhait/Ganqimaodu had been trapped in the transit point of Tsagaan Khad. It was understood that about 100 trucks pass through Gashuunsukhait every day, while the daily customs clearance volume before the epidemic was 800-1,500 trucks. As many as 15,000 trucks were waiting in line to pass through the Gashuunsukhait, of which 6,000 were short-haul trucks and the rest long-haul trucks (from Tavan Tolgoi mine to Gashuunsukhait), according to the ministry.
Mongolia needs to reduce the infection risk, as China will not allow coal truck drivers to pass through when the pandemic outburst remains severe in Mongolia, even though China's demand for coking coal is large while around 10 million tonnes of coal were stuck in Tsagaan Khad, according to B.Elbegzaya, from the Mining Policy Department of the Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry.
Up to 4 million tonnes of coal at Tavan Tolgoi mine were ready for delivering, but around 1,500 trucks were queueing between the mine and Gashuunsukhait border checkpoint, according to B.Elbegzaya.
(Writing by Emma Yang Editing by Harry Huo)
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