On 12 October 2023, France and Mongolia signed a geological research agreement. The main aim of the agreement, which was signed during Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khutelsukh’s visit to France, is to enable Mongolia to better understand and exploit its critical metal resources.
Signed at the Élysée Palace by France’s Geological and Mining Research Bureau (Bureau de Recherche Géologique et Minières – BRGM) and Mongolian ambassador Ulambayar Nyamkhuu, this partnership agreement should enable Mongolia to conduct more effective mineral exploration.
As part of this agreement, a first satellite lithium prospecting project in palaeo-salars (an ancient salt dessert) was also signed with the National Geological Service (NGS) and General Geophysical Company (Compagnie Générale de Géophysique – CGG), Mongolian and French institutions respectively.
The aim of the project is to demonstrate the relevance of using satellite data to predetermine the presence of mining potential. The demonstration concerns CGG’s work on a basin in Mongolia to identify potentially lithium-rich palaeosalars.
The project will therefore be based on the partnership established between BRGM, the French national geological survey, and its Mongolian counterpart, NGS. The demonstrator will consolidate CGG’s activity in this sector and could lead to mining development in Mongolia, thereby contributing to France’s lithium supply.
It should be noted that this agreement is part of the strategy to bring the two countries closer together, as demonstrated by two recent state visits: France’s visit to Mongolia in July and Mongolia’s visit to France in October. In particular, this concerns the issue of critical metals and should lead to the development of a number of projects of common interest.
A second agreement was signed between Orano and Mongolia for the operation of the Zuuvch Ovoo uranium mine.
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