Environmental baseline studies at Berkh Uul coal project

Auminco Mines – subject of a takeover bid by Viking Mines – has engaged a Mongolian consultancy group to begin environmental baseline studies at the Berkh Uul coal project. The baseline study is a key step in the application process for a mining license for the project.

The study will be carries out by Sustainable Environmental Consulting. The study will collect information on regional and local environmental aspects, including air quality, water studies, flora and fauna biodiversity, landscape, noise and dust, as well as social aspects – including land use, socio-economic conditions, cultural heritage and a survey of local inhabitants.

The final report from the study is due in two months.

The Berkh Uul project lies 200 km east of Darkhan city, within 40 km of the existing Trans-Mongolian railway.

The current exploration permit at the project is valid until 2015 – present data suggests shallow, consistent coal seams of high-quality bituminous coal that would be amenable to opencast mining.

Local cement works and power plants have already expressed an interest in purchasing unwashed coal from the Berkh Uul project. 

Adapted from press release by Sam Dodson

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/coal/12092014/environmental-study-begins-at-berkh-uul-1318/