🥶 Summer... with Snow?

Homegrown Mining Talent

June 29, 2026 • Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes

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Hello fellas! in July, Mongolia will have a 10-day public holiday for Naadam, from July 10 to 20, marking the country’s biggest annual celebration. During Naadam, the capital empties out as people head to the countryside, turning it into one of the quietest moments of the year. 😁

What’s inside today’s edition…

  • 🚦 ₩2.7B Boost for UB Traffic

  • 🥶 Summer... with Snow?

  • ⛏️ Building Mongolia's Mining Minds

We’ve got a lot to cover, so let’s get moving. 🐐

MARKET

KHAN: Khan Bank secures $170 million from EBRD. 

MNG: For the first time, a Kyrgyz refinery processed gold-bearing doré supplied by Mongolia's central bank, yielding a product valued at over $12 million. 

KR: South Korea will provide a ₩2.7 billion grant to develop a transportation master plan aimed at reducing traffic congestion in Ulaanbaatar.

 🥶 Summer... with Snow?

In an era of accelerating global warming, not all regions are heating at the same rate or intensity. Even multiple European countries issued red heat alerts , the highest level , in June 2026. Summer in Mongolia isn't quite summering. Ah, climate change is going different around the world.

🧐 Snowy Summer…

The world has already warmed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, with the rate of warming accelerating. Scientists, including James Hansen, have warned that 2026 is likely to be one of the hottest years on record globally. In mid-June, northern and central parts of Mongolia, including areas near the capital, experienced rare summer snowfall, prompting extreme cold weather alerts.

  • 🙄 After all, it’s not an abnormal thing. Snow in summer is rare, but it happens occasionally in Mongolia, especially in the north and at higher elevations.

💭 Why Does Mongolia Remain Relatively Cool?

Mongolia’s summer coolness is largely explained by its geography. The country sits at an average elevation of around 1,580 meters. Temperature drops roughly 6.5°C for every 1,000 meters of altitude gain. This alone makes Mongolia significantly cooler than lowland regions at similar latitudes.

  • ☔️ In addition, Mongolia has a strong continental climate. Located far from oceans, it experiences large day-night temperature swings. Even when daytime temperatures reach 24–26°C, nights often drop to 8–12°C. Low humidity further reduces the feeling of heat.

While global temperatures are rising, Mongolia’s summer warming has been more moderate compared to many mid-latitude regions. Europe, by contrast, has seen more frequent and intense heat waves due to stronger influence from heat domes and lower average elevation.

Looking ahead, this climatic advantage could become increasingly valuable. As heatwaves grow more frequent and severe across much of the Northern Hemisphere, Mongolia’s cooler summers may attract more tourists seeking relief from extreme heat. In the near future, the country could position itself as a destination for those looking to escape rising global temperatures.

⭐ Selected for you

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

  • MIAT Mongolia Eyes US, Privatisation, Local Consolidation. (CHAviation)

  • Development Bank of Mongolia LLC's Proposed Senior Unsecured Notes Assigned 'BB-' Rating. (S&PGlobal)

  • Mongolia’s Central TV, NBCU Formats are On Brand with Business Competition. (C21Media)

  • Petro Matad Announces Final Results for Year Ended 31 December 2025. (PetroMatad)

POLITICS

  • From Mining to Clean Energy, Jaishankar Charts New Course for India-Mongolia Ties. (TheTribune)

  • UK Government Pledges Funding for Mongolian Civic Space and Youth Voter Education. (Streamline)

  • Chinese Premier Calls for Consolidating Political Mutual Trust, Deepening Cooperation with Mongolia. (CGTN)

  • Mongolia and South Korea to Conclude Comprehensive Defence Cooperation Agreement. (ANN)

  • Mongolia and Turkey Sign Agreement to Elevate Defense Cooperation to a New Level. (InternationalDefenseAnalysis)

  • Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia Discuss Military Cooperation Development. (AKIPress)

  • Indian Army Joins Exercise Khaan Quest 2026 in Mongolia. (AWAZVoice)

CULTURE & LIFESTYLE

  • From Mongolia to Madagascar, Dogs Form Remarkably Similar Bonds With Humans. (StoryThatMatter)

  • An Approach to Assess the Impact of Measures Mitigating Burden Associated with COVID-19 in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia. (Nature)

  • Mongolia Launches Vaccination Campaign Against Foot-and-Mouth Disease. (XinhuaNews)

⛏️ Mongolia Builds Homegrown Geotechnical Engineers for Its Mining Future

Mongolia is now training its own world-class mining geotechnical engineers, a field it previously had to import at high cost.

🎓 Third Cohort Graduates

Launched in 2021, the Mining Geotechnics program at the Mongolian University of Science and Technology (MUST) was developed in partnership with Rio Tinto and Oyu Tolgoi to address a long-standing shortage of specialized engineers in the country’s mining sector.

  • 🎉🎈 Yesterday, the program celebrated another milestone when 14 new graduates received their bachelor’s degrees, bringing the total number of alumni to 54 since the first cohort completed their studies in 2024.

🔍 Closing a Long-Standing Gap

Before 2021, Mongolia had no dedicated undergraduate program in mining geotechnics. Major projects, including Oyu Tolgoi’s complex underground operations, relied heavily on expatriate specialists, driving up costs and limiting local knowledge of Mongolia-specific geological conditions. Currently, around 90 students are enrolled in the mining geotechnics program at MUST, a modest but steadily growing number.

  • 💰 Partnership and Labs: Rio Tinto invested $2.4 million to establish a computer modeling laboratory at MUST, while Oyu Tolgoi added $366,000 for a rock mechanics lab. These facilities enable students to train with industry software on local rock formations rather than generic models.

  • 📈 Early Results and Growth: More than 80% of the first graduates are now working at Oyu Tolgoi. Current enrollment stands at about 90 students, with a new master’s program already attracting 18 students. The initiative supports Mongolia’s push for safer operations and reduced dependence on foreign technical staff in its key economic sector.

Finally… The program positions graduates for roles at Oyu Tolgoi and potentially across Rio Tinto’s global operations, strengthening long-term human capital in Mongolia’s mining industry.

🎉 Happy Playtime Week!!!

24th Playtime Festival is just 🤏 this close.

💎 Leveling up year after year

Scheduled for July 2–4, this year’s Playtime Festival continues its ambition to position itself among Asia’s top festivals, steadily elevating its scale, artist lineup, and overall production quality each year. In particular, this year’s lineup is being described as one of the most expensive in the festival’s history.

  • 👉 For those planning to stay on-site during the festival, accommodation options now include glamping tents, traditional Mongolian ger camping, and camper van spaces. In addition, ticketing has become more flexible for the first time, offering both 2-day and 3-day pass options.

If you haven’t secured your tickets yet, now is the time to get ready, both your plans and your outfit won’t have much time left.

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Publisher: Ts.Ankhbayar
Writer: M.Khulan
Graphics by: Ts.Tselmeg

Disclaimer: The information Inside Mongolia provides is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be or constitute financial advice, trading advice, or any other advice. The decision whether to consider the information we provide is solely our readers' independent decision.