Highlights
- Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for natural gas products signed with Mongolian Mining Corporation LLC (MMC)
- MMC is Mongolia’s largest producer and exporter of high-quality washed coking coal
- The partnership will focus on using gas in major Mongolian mining operations and trucking logistics as a cleaner energy source that can deliver cost savings and significant environmental benefits
- The MOU accelerates Jade’s pathway to reserves and commercialisation goals.
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MOU for Gas Offtake Overview
Jade Gas Holdings Limited (ASX:JGH) (Jade or the Company) confirms the signing of a non-binding MOU for gas products produced by Jade, with Mongolia’s largest producer and exporter of high-quality hard coking coal, Hong Kong listed Mongolian Mining Corporation LLC (HKEX:975). MMC is also Jade’s joint-venture partner (34%) working with the Company to develop the Baruun Naran coal field (BNG Project).
MMC has a market capitalisation of HK$14 billion and operates two open-pit mines, namely Ukhaa Khudag Mine, located within the TTCBM permit area, and Baruun Naran Mine, located on the west side extension of the TTCBM permit area. These open-pit mines are located within the Tavan Tolgoi coal basin in the Southern Gobi of Mongolia, which is approximately 220km to the Mongolian-Chinese border and about 550km to Baotou, China, an important steel producing city in China.
Key terms of the MOU include:
- MMC will have a non-exclusive option for gas products from Jade’s TTCBM and BNG Projects, and;
- Jade to potentially supply two products: Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) for heavy vehicles, and gas for electricity generation – building on the scoping work Jade has already undertaken on small scale LNG in the region.
MOU Objective
MMC is considering the potential of gas as an alternative fuel and cleaner energy source to power its Mongolian mining operations and truck fleet. This forms part of MMC’s Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) protocol, and more broadly Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitment for sustainable energy use and Green House Gas (GHG) emissions management1. Negotiating a binding gas sales agreement contemplating commercial terms will be a catalyst for the conversion of resources to reserves.
Mongolia Gas Opportunity
Security of energy supply is a prominent and significant issue, with gasoline and diesel shortages in various parts of the country becoming a regular feature. Some media reports2 have suggested that the increased productivity from Mongolia’s mining sector and distribution issues have severely impacted the fuel consumption supply/demand balance. This, coupled with the fact that Mongolia imports more than 95% of all its fuel from Russia, may see the diesel intensive mining sector, move more quickly to address vulnerabilities in the energy supply chain by considering alternate and more robust domestic energy supply option such as gas.
One of the significant opportunities for Jade’s strategically located Mongolian gas resource lies in supporting MMC’s coal transport operations that consist of a truck-and-road model. MMC own a truck fleet of approximately 450 double-trailer trucks, which move product from its two operating mines for export to the Gashuunsukhait-Ganqimaodu (GS-GM) border port in China.
In the first half of 2023, MMC reported a four-fold increase in total number of coal trucks crossing GS-GM border (figure 2), largely returning to pre-covid levels. The cost and environmental footprint associated with the increased truck movements underpins the importance of the partnership being developed under the MOU between Jade and MMC.
Figure 1: MMC truck crossing the Mongolia-China border Gashuunsukhait-Ganqimaodu (GS-GM)
Figure 2: Graph showing the 1H2023 increase in total number of coal trucks crossing GS-GM border1
An initiative to convert the MMC truck fleet to gas power has a number of potential material environmental benefits3:
- Fewer Emissions: Heavy duty vehicles running on LNG produce up to 25% fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, up to 50% less Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) emissions, and 80% less Particulate Matter (PM) than diesel powered vehicles;
- Cost: LNG to offer favourable pricing and greater stability over diesel;
- Maintenance: LNG-fuelled vehicles require less servicing, and as a result can extend the life of the vehicle for up to 3 times longer than a diesel engine; and
- Efficiency: LNG offers more efficient combustion in engines for reduced fuel consumption.
LNG application in transportation is rapidly gaining traction as an alternative fuel option in heavy-duty trucks, trains, ships, and even buses, primarily due to its environmental benefits.
Commenting on the MOU with MMC, Jade Executive Chairman, Dennis Morton, said:
“This MOU brings us closer to our commercialisation goals – with our 2024 field activity program starting soon, and our ongoing marketing efforts, we look to convert our expansive contingent resource into reserves in the short-term.
The market dynamics for gas continue to grow in our favour as is evident in recent shortages of diesel and gas supply across Mongolia. There is no question now that Government and industry focus on transitioning to a more robust and secure supply chain for cleaner energy. Jade’s strategic gas assets in the South Gobi region of Mongolia sit directly in that megatrend.”
- ENDS -
Authorised for release on behalf of the Board by Joseph Burke, Executive Director.
For further information contact:
Elvis Jurcevic
Investor Relations
+61 408 268 271
ej@jadegas.com.au
1 MMC 2023 Interim Results Presentation.
2 Geopolitical journal New Eastern Outlook article 7 February 2024 “Who is to blame for Mongolia’s fuel shortages?” - https://journal-neo.su/2024/02/07/who-is-to-blame-for-mongolias-fuel-shortages/.
3 Source: BOC Gas website “Benefits of LNG for Heavy Duty Vehicles”.