Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/. During his working trip in Umnugobi aimag last week, Prime Minister of Mongolia L.Oyun-Erdene delivered remarks at the ceremony to commence the construction of a transloading terminal at the Gashuunsukhait border checkpoint, and became acquainted with Tavantolgoi – Gashuunsukhait railroad complex project.

“Main mining products such as copper and coking coal account for more than 90 percent of the country’s total export. About 50 percent of the mining products is exported through the Gashuunsukhait border checkpoint alone. The issue concerning the border connection points at Zamiin-Uud – Erlian border checkpoint was agreed 70 years ago, while the same issue is now being considered at the Gashuunsukhait – Gantsmod border checkpoint. Regarding the matter, relevant construction works have been carried out, and the new transloading terminal is expected to be commissioned in July. Mongolia will have four export gateways in the near future.

Gashuunsukhait-Gantsmod border checkpoints will be connected by railroad as part of the ‘Revival of Border Ports’ set out in the government’s New Revival Policy. Within its frames, the transloading terminal project at Gashuunsukhait border checkpoint is being implemented by ‘Tavantolgoi Tumur Zam’ LLC.

Running operations around the clock, the terminal will cover a total of 74 hectares of land, which includes facilities for customs control and waiting areas.

With its commissioning, it will become possible to generate USD 224.6 million in income within 10 years, allocating USD 17.17 million in taxes to the state budget.

CEO of 'Tavantolgoi Tumur Zam' LLC N.Udaanjargal introduced the Tavantolgoi – Gashuunsukhait railway complex project to Prime Minister L.Oyun-Erdene. In accordance with the company’s ‘A6-20’ mid-term business plan for 2021-2025, the Tavantolgoi – Gashuunsukhait railway complex is planned to be put into operation in July this year. Noting that the construction work is running at 79.5 percent, the CEO highlighted that substations have been built in 16 out of 17 locations within the framework of infrastructure works.

In turn, Prime Minister L.Oyun-Erdene announced that civil servants involved in the project will be presented with a bonus equivalent to their monthly salary from the Government’s reserve fund. “The 414-km Tavantolgoi – Zuunbayan railroad and the 267-km Tavantolgoi – Gashuunsukhait railroad will become fully operational this autumn. Once the railways are put into operation, it will become possible to increase the country’s annual exports by 50 million tons of products,” said the Prime Minister.

He expressed gratitude to civil servants including those in charge of border patrols as well as truck drivers for adhering to the infection control regime in the Tsagaan Khad area of the Gashuunsukhait border checkpoint during the difficult times of the pandemic.