World Image issue 11 October 2014

The Oyu Tolgoi copper mine has projected
production levels of over 81 billion pounds of
copper as well as 46 million ounces of gold.
The investment required for this mineral
extraction is currently estimated at $13 billion.
With this level of investment comes a massive
infrastructure of new builds and new roads.
During our expedition we were supposed to be
trekking for nearly 15 days, this turned out to
be nearer five days and the rest was a bumpy
off-road drive in Russian minibuses, but this
was great for me as an off-road enthusiast
getting the experience of negotiating some of
Mongolia’s fascinating landscape.
Interestingly, while in the capital, Ulaanbaatar,
I had noticed the odd Hummer, a couple of
shiny Range Rovers, there was even a static
dust storm looking for all the world like a
Discovery 4 but the majority of 4x4s were
Toyota Land Cruisers.
It has to be said that of all the countries that I
have travelled around, I have never seen such a
massive collection of expensive up market offroad
vehicles. One of the main reasons for this
growth in 4x4 ownership is the sudden rise in
wealth and external corporate investment.
Mongolia is a massive country, but you fear
money rich corporations will buy up vast tracts
of land and the regions of the nomadic people
will slowly be eroded and may eventually
disappear.
Mongolia is a fascinating country steeped in
nomadic culture, bio-diversity and a unique
creed. In the cities and towns it is clear that
predominantly, Mongols follow Buddhism, but
as you drive deeper into the countryside the
ancient practice of Shamanism still exists.
It is not uncommon to drive to the high cols and
see a recently sacrificed head of a horse.
Genghis Khan, who used to command half the
world, could not have conquered and ruled the
largest land empire in the world without the
horse.
Mongols held these horses in highest regard
and accorded them great spiritual significance.
Before setting forth on military expeditions, for
example, commanders would scatter mare’s
milk on the earth to insure victory. In rituals,
horses were sacrificed to provide ‘transport’ to
heaven.
While Mongolia is no longer intent on
conquering the world, the practice is still
initiated when family elders pass away as they
believe they will be transported to heaven.
Sitting having a beer one evening with one of
the ubiquitous global executives that are part of
the upsurge in expensive vehicles in
Ulaanbaatar, I learnt that Mongolia has a wealth
of 80 different minerals and is home to one of
the biggest copper projects in the world.
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