Foreign businesses upset as Mongolia cancels mine licenses

ULAN BATOR - Reuters

Mongolia cancelled many exploration licenses, raising concerns among foreign investors about doing business there.

Mongolia has annulled more than 100 exploration licenses as part of an investigation into mining sector corruption, raising further concerns among foreign investors about the risks of doing business in there.

Mongolia-focused Kincora Copper said today that it had received a letter from the Mineral Resources Authority saying that two of its licenses had been revoked following a criminal investigation into former government officials accused of illegally issuing a total of 106 exploration licenses between 2008 and 2009.

All of the 106 licenses have been cancelled.

Kincora Copper said the move, which will affect the licenses of an estimated 11 foreign and 67 domestic firms hoping to explore for a range of minerals, highlighted the uncertainty facing a growing legion of foreign investors.

“Security of tenure and a transparent legal system are key cornerstones for both domestic and foreign private sector investment,” said Sam Spring, president and chief executive of Kincora Copper, in an email.

With legal proceedings already underway, the company suspended exploration activities on the two properties, known as North Fox and Tourmaline Hills, at the start of the year.

Surenjav Odbayar, head of research at Ulan Bator-based brokerage National Securities, said the case related to two government officials caught up in a crackdown on corruption that was launched ahead of Mongolian President Tsakhia Elbegdorj bid for re-election this year.