Generating Local Employment
Opportunities

During construction of infrastructure required to support the planned operations, several thousand temporary direct and indirect employment opportunities will also be created. Following construction, a significant number of permanent direct and indirect job opportunities will also remain.

It is estimated that the Ovoot Coking Coal Project will support more than 1200 permanent full-time jobs once in operation. Most of these jobs will be based at locations within Khuvsgul aimag, and there is commitment to maximising the placement of local people into this jobs which will benefit both the Company and its host communities

Improved Regional Transportation
Infrastructure

Construction of paved highway on the Murun – Uliastai alignment that will be available for public use, will protect the environment and significantly benefit local communities and businesses of Burentogtokh, Tsagaan-Uul, and Tsetersleg soums, and better connect western Mongolia with Erdenet, the country’s second-largest city.

This all-seasons paved road, which will form part of the national highway network, will offer safer, faster, more comfortable, year-round travel for residents and better access to health and education services. More efficient transportation in the region will enable reduction in the cost of imported goods, increased competitiveness of exported goods. The economy in Khuvsgul depends on agriculture and tourism, and the improved transportation infrastructure will enhance efficiency in these sectors. The road will also prevent environmental damage caused by traffic on unformed roads.

In addition to the new road that will be developed between Ovoot and Murun, upgrades to existing public road between Murun and Erdenet are also planned, including for bypasses of the congested administrative centres of Bulgan and Erdenet. This will provide for faster long distance travel, and a reduction in traffic congestion, noise and emissions currently generated by existing traffic in these city centres.

Economic Benefits and Supporting Local
Business

Aspire’s procurement policy is to source equipment locally, where possible, and the company’s tender process supports cooperation between world class international vendors and capable local construction companies and mining service providers. Aspire underlying ethos is to enable long-term careers and generate sustainable livelihoods that will flow onto significant ongoing benefits for the communities in which we operate.

Contributing to Community Initiatives

We support positive social initiatives in the communities in which we operate. These initiatives include sponsorship of health, art, education and sporting initiatives within communities predominantly in Khuvsgul aimag (province), but also elsewhere in Mongolia.

Safeguarding the Environment

Aspire intents not only meet global best practices with respect to mining projects, but to be an example of environmental stewardship, both in Mongolia and globally.

Stringent environmental controls have been incorporated into all aspects of the planned Ovoot Coking Coal Project development and operation – from the enclosed coal handling and receival (at site and at rail terminal), to transportation utilising modern fuel efficient and low emissions trucks, to environmental protection considerations around the construction of the new haulage road.

Aspire is particularly proud to be developing the new road – which will also be for public use – as it will eliminate the damage currently being caused by public traffic. This damage includes the degradation of pastures, erosion and sedimentation of watercourses currently being caused by third party vehicles informally developing multiple tracks.

Developing Mongolia’s Mining Industry Using Global Best Practices

To emphasise the Company’s commitment to sustainability, in March 2024, Aspire sponsored and assisted the Mongolian National Mining Association (MNMA) to tour community leaders from Khuvsgul aimag and Mongolian government agency officials through coal mining regions in New South Wales, Australia, to see how responsibly managed mining operations contribute to community prosperity whilst coexisting happily with the tourism and agricultural industries and protecting the natural environment. This included observing world-class mine site rehabilitation and mine environmental controls being implemented in Hunter Valley open pit coal mines and witnessing the agricultural, horticultural, and equine industries operating in close proximity to numerous and large open pit coal mining operations.