BHP Billiton Ltd., Vale SA and Xstrata Plc, are among mining companies interested in developing coal deposits in southern Mongolia, the country’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy said. 

Gold and copper explorer Entrée Gold today said that the latest survey work over its Heruga deposit at the Lookout Hill project in Mongolia supported its contention that significant potential exists to expand the known resources there.

First Vice PM N.Altankhuyag worked in Umnugobi province during the weekends and visited Oyutolgoi, Tavantolgoi and Gashuunsukhait port. N.Altankhuyag’s trip was related to his job as the leader of a Government working group to make plans for development in southern regions ofMongolia.

Meeting the growing needs of a fast-developing China is, directly and indirectly, a key objective of many natural resources companies. Mongolia-focussed, AIM-listed Petro Matad (MATD) has the advantage of being right next door to China – and the petroleum industry in Mongolia is being driven hard by the needs of its neighbour. We take a look at the rapidly developing oil industry in Mongolia, which remains unknown to many Western investors, before reviewing the Petro Matad portfolio which includes three large exploration Blocks. Drilling on the first of these, Block XX, will begin in April 2010.

Sunwing Energy Ltd., an Ivanhoe Energy subsidiary, acquired PanAsian Petroleum, a private company headquartered in Alberta in an all-share deal worth approximately $7.2 million.