Mongolia Fuel

For information on Mongolia fuel contact details, please see the following link: 4.6 Mongolia Fuel Provider Contact List

Mongolia relies heavily on its northern neighbor for its fuel supply.  90% of fuel is imported from Russia making Mongolia vulnerable to supply shortages.Availability can be  an issue due to temporary limitation/restrictions.  In the first half of 2011 fuel reserves got dangerously low, leading to rationing of fuel and a permit system being introduced. There are approximately 10 large companies that import fuel into Mongolia.  A number of them have depots close to Ulaanbaatar and in aimag centres (see annex - Customs Bonded Warehouses and Temporary Storage for a list of locations and capacity of the fuel storage of various companies). The government does not have any large fuel depots. There are a number of importers and distributors of fuels.  Each company arranges importation of fuel (primarily from Russia) and has their own storage depots from which they arrange distribution around the country.  Most fuel is imported by train and then delivery around Mongolia is done by truck. The main fuel suppliers are NIC, MT, Just, Sod Mongol and Petro Jump.

Information may also be found at: http://www.mytravelcost.com/Mongolia

Fuel Pricing

Fuel pricing is monitored by the Mongolian Fuel Agency.  There is 15% tax applied to fuel - 10% VAT and 5% import tax.

Seasonal Variations 

During Spring (sowing) and Autumn (harvest) there can be shortages in fuel and an increase in price. Local supply (domestic refinery production and imports combined) doen not meet the needs of the country, especially for aviation and ground fuels.

Fuel Transportation

Most of the fuel that is imported from Russia is transported to local Mongolian depots via train.  Once in Mongolia trucks are used to transport it around the country. The capacity of these trucks is approximately 20mt.  Transportation infrastructure and fleet are sufficient to handle current domestic needs as well as increased demand from the humanitarian community.

Standards, Quality and Testing

For information on Mongolia fuel contact details, please see the following link: 

4.6 Mongolia Fuel Provider Contact List

Mongolia Transporters

There are few large trucking companies. Most trucking is done by owner operators. Mongolian trucks are able to travel into both Russia and China to collect cargo and at both entry points there are large numbers of empty Mongolian trucks waiting to travel into these two countries to collect freight. Transport rates for a 2.5 ton trucks (without refrigerator) is 40,000-60,000 MNT per day + petrol/diesel. To arrange large numbers of trucks it is best to go through a freight forwarding agent.

Generally the trucks are of the following makes and capacities - Russian Zil 130 - 5 tonnes wagons (up to 10 tonnes), Kamaz - 20 tonnes (10 + 10 - twp trailers), Chinese trucks - Up to 60 tonnes with option for + 40 tonnes wagon (100 tonnes total), Ulaanbaatar Water Supply Company has trucks that are able to transport water. The following companies all have more than 15 trucks but it is difficult to ascertain the condition of them and if they are equipped for winter operations.

• Auto 5 +976 11 70172741
• MTT +976 11 243980
• Material Impeks +976 11 305305
• Express Trans +976 90039002
• Auto Khishig +976 99106405
• Altai Bugat +976 11 631550
• Altai Three Bogd +976 99789020
• BMA +976 99998623
• Dem Khoshuu +976 99118434
• JABB +976 99099044

For information on Mongolia transporter contact details and fleet size information, please see the following link: 

4.7 Mongolia Transporter Contact List

Mongolia Additional Service Providers: Vehicle Rental, Taxi Companies, Freight Forwarding Agents, Handling Equipment, Power Generation and ISPs. 

For information on Mongolia additional service provider contact details, please see the following link: 

4.8 Mongolia Additional Service Provision Contact List

Vehicle Rental

There are a number of rental car companies in Ulaanbaatar.  For travel out of the capital a 4WD vehicle is recommended.

Taxi Companies

Ulaanbaatar and a couple of the larger city have taxi companies, but generally any car on the street is a taxi.  You just flag down a car that will stop.

Freight Forwarding Agents

There are a number of freight forwarders in Mongolia that are able to provide a variety of services.  Sukhbaatar, Zamyn Uud, Bulgan and Ulaanbaatar ports of entry all have freight forwarders at the border/airport.

Electricity and Power 

Electricity in Mongolia is 230 volts. The primary source of electricity is coal. Power in the western provinces is supplied from Russia. Electricity - production: 4.5 billion kWh (2010, Mundi Index). The primary source of electricity is coal. Power in the western provinces of Uvs, Bayan Olgii and Khovd is supplied from Russia.

Energy sector:

• Ulaanbaatar Electricity Distribution Network Joint Stock Company
• Baganuur and East-Southern Region Electricity Distribution Network Joint Stock Company
• Power Plant IV Joint Stock Company
• Erdenet Power Plant Joint Stock Company
• Baganuur Power Plant Joint Stock Company
• Hovd Electricity Distribution Network Joint Stock Company
• Western Region Electricity Transmission Networks Joint Stock Company
• Uvs, Ulaangom Electricity Distribution Network Joint Stock Company

Electricity - imports: 214.1 million kWh (2010, Index Mundi)
Electricity - exports: 20.7 million kWh (2010, Index Mundi)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

There are a number of ISP providers in Mongolia. Magicnet was the first ISP provider company in Mongolia and holds significant market share in terms of providing internet access in Mongolia. Internet usage has grown rapidly in the last few years. In 2000, there were 30,000 users, but by 2007 there were more than 250,000 users.

For information on Mongolia additional service provider contact details, please see the following link: 4.8 Mongolia Additional Service Provision Contact List

Mongolia Manual Labor Costs

The unemployment rate in Mongolia is under 10% (2011) and is slowly decreasing.  In most urban areas including Ulaanbaatar and provincial capitals there is a ready supply of informal workers. Each aimag (province) has its own regional union.  There are also 12 sectorial unions such as those representing teachers, service workers, energy/geologist/miners, agricultural/environmental workers etc.  Many of these unioins are resonably new and as yet are not very active but increasingly they are becoming involved in brokering enterprise bargain agreements for their members.

People tend to use word of mouth, local papers and other forms of classifieds to find work rather than relying on employment agencies. The monthly wage (40 hour week) for an unskilled labourer is approximately 140,000 but for workers in construction it can be up to 500,000.  The minimum wage for unskilled labour is set at 835.7 T an hour. Mining in the south of the country is causing the price of labour to increase in those areas.

Mongolia Telecommunications 

For information on Mongolia Telecommunications contact details, please see the following link 4.8 Mongolia Additional Service Provision Contact List

Landlines : There are approximately 175,000 fixed-line phones main lines in use though that number is decreasing. The Mongolia Telecom Company is the national telecommunications company. There is good mobile coverage throughout the country. There are 4 mobile phone providers – two of which (G-mobile and Skytel) are on the CDMA network. At the end of 2009, the total number of mobile users was estimated at 1,850,000 (, 1,050,000 Skytel: 255,000 Unitel: 375,000 G-Mobile: 175,000.) (Source: Wikipedia)

Mobile Operators:

• Mobicom Corporation (GSM) - The first mobile operator. http://www.mobicom.mn/index.html
• Skytel (CDMA) http://www.skytel.mn/
• Unitel (GSM) http://www.unitel.mn/home
• G-Mobile (CDMA) http://www.g-mobile.mn/

Telecommunication Regulation

The Communications Regulatory Commission (CRC) is an independent Mongolian Government regulatory agency. The Commission was established by the Communications Act of 2001, and is charged with regulating and supervising of competition issues, the provision of networks and services for fixed line and wireless telecommunications, television, radio, and satellite transmission, spectrum management, postal services and the internet. The CRC’s jurisdiction covers each region of Mongolia. The Commission consists of seven commissioners, appointed by the Prime Minister for six-year terms. The Prime Minister nominates the Chairman and 6 non-executive Board Members shown below.

NOTE: You renew licences every year, pay for licensing, all regulated by CRC.  For UN agencies this process is free of charge.

Existing Humanitarian Telecoms Systems

There is no UN repeater in Mongolia.  Frequencies and channels have been allocated and all security management team members have access to radios.  There are 5 frequencies and 3 channels. Satellite phones and GPS are generally carried by humanitarian agencies on trips to the field.

For information on Mongolia Telecommunications contact details, please see the following link 4.8 Mongolia Additional Service Provision Contact List

Mongolia Food Suppliers, Accommodation and Other Markets

For information on Mongolia Food Suppliers, Accommodation and other Market contact details, please see the following link 4.8 Mongolia Additional Service Provision Contact List

There a number of large importers of both foods and NFI's that have warehouses in Ulaanbaatar and distribute goods around Mongolia. There are a number of large supermarkets in Ulaanbaatar as well as several department type stores that supply both food and other consumer goods.

Main Food Suppliers

Staples in Mongolia are wheat flour and meat. In summer and autumn vegetables are available. During the dzud of 2009/10 the food package distributed included - sugar, flour, rice, veg oil, iodized salt, tea. Most Aimags have milling facilities. Most foods are imported from Russia and China - eg: sugar, rice, vegetable oil. In UB there are a number of wholesalers and supermarket chains where goods can be purchased. In the event of an emergency local supplies would be insufficient.

Accommodation

Accommodation is reasonably easy to find.  Most provincial centres have a number of hotels or guest houses.  There is also a number of ger camps around Ulaanbaatar and throughout the country.

For information on Mongolia Food Suppliers, Accommodation and other Market contact details, please see the following link:

4.8 Mongolia Additional Service Provision Contact List