ID: 1695
Presenting Author: Narantsetseg Nyamsuren
Session: 527 - The importance of effective communication for Impact Assessments
Status: pending
Engaging in open discussion with local community members and listening attentively both builds trust and provides access to critical local environmental information.
Mongolia’s unique nomadic heritage, heavy reliance on mining, and uncertain legal environment create conditions unlike those in other countries. In such a setting, launching new mining projects means overcoming multiple challenges - social resistance, conflicting interests, and lack of mutual understanding. This presentation shares practical experiences of successfully addressing these issues under unclear legal and institutional conditions.
In Dalanzadgad soum, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for an iron mine and processing plant was stalled for six years due to strong community opposition. After the project owner engaged our team, it was approved within six months.
Our approach began with direct talks with key community leaders, followed by discussions with local authorities and consultations with herders and residents. The core of our management method was to design survey content carefully and listen closely to local voices. This built trust, reduced opposition, and fostered open dialogue - while respecting Mongolia’s distinct cultural and interpersonal traits.
Active listening not only eased tensions but also revealed insights into environmental conditions, climate impacts, livestock health, rare species, and true causes of opposition. Integrating these insights into the EIA helped decision-makers understand the real context and identify balanced solutions. The project gained full community approval at the first meeting, and this method has since been applied successfully in other projects.
N. Narantsetseg:
1. Mining Consultant Engineer of Mongolia
2. CEO of Sublime LLC (Environmental consulting company)