SIGNATURE WORK
CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION 2022

As climate change became accepted as an existential threat there is an ongoing shift in energy sources in developed countries. Instead of using coal, they are using renewable energy to generate electricity and heat. Mongolia produces more than 39 million tons of coal per year and more than 90% of it is exported to China. Although Mongolia does not have the funds nor the capacity to shift into renewable energy soon it still faces the threat of losing its coal mining sector due to the increasing cost of producing coal and low demand. Especially China’s plan of decreasing coal usage would significantly lower coal production and export. Considering the possibility this work looks at coal mine closure impacts in the U.S, Australia, South Africa, the U.K, and other countries and the government programs that assisted local communities, former employees, and coal mine restoration. By comparing other projects around the world, this work identifies which factors are important in policy making and what can be adopted in Mongolia. To suggest better policies, and understand coal mine workers’ conditions, we surveyed 132 coal mine workers on their current skills, skills they would like to acquire, and sectors they want to transfer.