In Mongolia's vast Gobi desert, a trading transition is afoot that could alter how one of the country's prized assets is bought and sold. The Erdenet copper mine, a key state asset, aims to migrate all future sales of its copper concentrate onto the Mongolian Stock Exchange (MSE). CEO Yondon argues the shift to exchange-based trading will provide greater pricing transparency versus privately negotiated over-the-counter deals.
The move comes at a time when copper prices are skyrocketing due to the global energy transition and near-term supply constraints. As the world shifts towards renewable energy technologies, electric vehicles, and energy storage, copper demand is surging, and Mongolia's rich copper deposits are attracting attention.