Major amendments to Mongolia’s Minerals Law under discussion
On 26 May 2026 the Government submitted to the State Great Khural a bill amending the Law on Minerals. According to the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, the bill changes more than 40% of the law’s provisions. All parliamentary readings have been completed, and final adoption is expected during the autumn session.
Key proposals in the bill
- Exploration licences. Halving the licence term to 6 years and raising fees, to discourage long-term holding and trading of licences.
- Critical minerals. A dedicated policy framework for critical minerals.
- Minerals of unknown origin. Regulating the purchase of such minerals to curb illegal mining and tax evasion.
- Copper royalty surcharge. Linked to market prices: 0–15% for ore, 0–5% for concentrate and 0–2.5% for finished products.
- Local revenue. A larger share of mineral royalty revenue retained by local areas.
What to watch: Licence holders and investors should assess now how the proposed licence terms, fees and royalty changes could affect their planned projects. Provisions may change before final adoption.
Sources
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Please contact our lawyers about your specific situation.