The ‘coal theft’ case: Corruption and reform of Mongolia’s strategic minerals governance

It delves into the critical challenge of tackling corruption in the sector and highlights the potential long-term implications to industry sustainability and the integrity of mineral supply chains. [...] To understand the governance of Mongolia’s strategic minerals, five months of field work were undertaken in the eastern and western parts of South Gobi province, where the Tavan Tolgoi coal deposit at the centre of the ‘coal theft’ case is situated. [...] When the Judicial Council of Mongolia reported on the status of the case, it referred to it only as the ‘coal’ case, noting that it was a criminal matter involving the exploitation, transportation, and selling/buying of coal. [...] Thus, the important step towards better implementation of the existing anti-corruption rules is to ensure the anti-corruption agency’s independence and to improve the agency’s institutional capacity.’25 However, an amendment to Mongolia’s anti-corruption law indicates that the government has taken no steps to guarantee the agency’s independence. [...] Obstacles to transparency and the politicisation of remedies Transparency is typically viewed as crucial for tackling corruption in the mineral sector, and the government has legislated to promote openness in the industry.