Extract from Email received today from XAM shareholders email subscription,.

Hi Adam

Please find below insights into Mongolia’s concentrate transportation rail line solution, extracted from recent news articles:

· Tavan Tolgoi (TT) – Gashuunsukhait (GS) rail line project is slated for completion by July 2022, with targeted commissioning date remaining unchanged since 2020.

· TT-GS rail line is 75% complete as at April 2022.

· 223km rail line will enable copper concentrate to be exported to Chinese smelters over the border more efficiently and reduce environmental impacts associated with current trucking transportation.

· During recent bilateral talks between Mongolia – China, completion of this rail line was listed as priority project, with Gashuunsukhait-Gantsmod border crossing handling more than 50% of Mongolia’s copper concentrate & coking coal exports.

· Furthermore, Mongolian copper smelters are being planned to reduce reliance on transporting concentrates and increase in country value-add:

Ø Mongolian government looking to build smelter at Erdenet mine by 2025 – 2026

Ø Discussions for another smelter at Oyu Tolgoi mine

Interview: Mongolia eyes ramp-up of coking coal, copper exports to China in 2022: minister

· Mongolia is looking to launch three railway lines this year, which will bring the country's mining sector to a whole new level, Otgonshar said in an interview with S&P Global Commodity Insights.

· The Tavantolgoi-Gashuunsukhait railway line will come online in July, with 75% of the project complete so far, the minister said.

· Meanwhile, construction on Zuunbayan-Khangi/Mandal railway lines started in March, and the country is aiming to start their operations later this year, Otgonshar said.

• Despite transportation challenges, Mongolia still managed to export 335,000 mt of copper concentrates to China in the first quarter of this year, already meeting 25.6% of its annual target, he said.
• Mongolia would just focus on China market as transportation costs for other markets are very high, and China's market is big enough to absorb Mongolia's increasing production, the minister added.

· Mongolia is advancing its mining industry capabilities and the country has the potential to become the world's fifth-largest copper player by 2030, Otgonshar said.

· Mongolia has developed skills in running mines over the past 30 years and now it is time to move to the next level, going to more value-added processing, Otgonshar said.

· The government is planning to build up a copper smelter in Erdenet mine by 2025-2026 while another copper smelter at the Oyu Tolgoi mine is also under discussion, the minister said.

https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/market-insights/latest-news/metals/041222-interview-mongolia-eyes-ramp-up-of-coking-coal-copper-exports-to-china-in-2022-minister

China, Mongolia Finalize Major Railroad Crossing Points

• the two sides reached a significant breakthrough on railroad and infrastructure projects that have been stalled for more than a decade
• During the exchanges, the two sides discussed plans for railroads at the Gashuunsukhait-Gantsmod and Shiveekhuren-Sekhee border crossings. This has been a long-standing priority for Mongolia, particularly the construction of a railway at Gashuunsukhait-Gantsmod – the port handles more than 50 percent of Mongolia’s copper and coking coal exports. Oyun-Erdene had urged Xi to “pay special attention” to railway construction at Gashuunsukhait-Gantsmod during their meeting.
• In October 2021, Mongolia’s road and transportation development minister, Khaltar Luvsan, explained the necessary steps that needs to be taken by both Mongolia and China in order to finalize the railroad border crossing points. “Mongolia and China need to address and finalize two issues regarding the Gashuunsukhait-Gantsmod port. First, we need to agree on where the railroad border crossing meets,” Khaltar said. “Second, we need to follow the aegis of the international freight protocols, which means Mongolian coals will be transferred to the Chinese trains in Gantsmod.”
• During the February meetings, Mongolia and China finalized these two protracted issues in a breakthrough – particularly for the Mongolian side.

https://thediplomat.com/2022/02/china-mongolia-finalize-major-railroad-crossing-points/

Tavan Tolgoi-Gashuunsukhait railway to be ready by next year

· The government is keen to complete new railroads connecting Tavan Tolgoi mine to both Gashuunsukhait border checkpoint and Zuunbayan in Dornogovi Province.

· Some 46 companies and the Construction Unit of the Mongolian Armed Forces are building the railway.

· The government is striving to put the Tavan Tolgoi-Gashuunsukhait railroad into operation by July 2022 as the new track would enable Mongolia to considerably ramp up its mineral and cargo exports. The extensive railway track will also reduce harmful environment impacts by protecting pastures, mitigating dust emissions, decrease air and soil pollutions, and reduce noise in the surrounding area, says experts. Some estimates indicate that once the new railway is put to use, up to 28 million USD will be charged in taxes annually from transportation.

• Earthworks of the railway construction are at 81 percent completion, while the assembling of upper infrastructure is progressing at 67 percent. Out of the 233-kilometer-long track planned, 201 kilometers have been built, according to contractors. On the other hand, the Tavan Tolgoi-Zuunbayan track, connecting the south to eastern routes, will stretch for 416.2 kilometers and have one station and six crossings. This railroad will also boost coking coal export, facilitate transportation of mining and other industrial products, and support regional social and economic developments.
• “The government is taking all necessary measures to ensure that these strategically important railways are put into operation on time. Due to politicization and divisions, these railway development haven’t been completed for 12 years. This has cost Mongolia a lot of revenue and opportunities. This cannot continue,” Prime Minister L.Oyun-Erdene stated during his visit to the project site last week.

https://theubposts.com/tavan-tolgoi-gashuunsukhait-railway-to-be-ready-by-next-year/

Best Regards

Anna

Telephone: +61434411016
Email: [email protected]