The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, S.Odontuya has issued an official directive aimed at accelerating efforts to reduce soil contamination caused by petrol stations. This directive has been circulated to businesses operating in this sector. The then minister, in line with the “Years to Visit Mongolia” initiative in 2023, issued a similar directive focusing on creating a healthy, safe, and clean environment. It required petrol stations to upgrade their sanitary facilities to meet national standards, make them accessible to the public, and incorporate measures to reduce soil contamination in their environmental management plans.
Building upon this, the minister now has conducted a comprehensive review of the progress made so far and has issued this directive to intensify efforts. The new directive mandates that by 2025, petrol stations must include soil contamination studies—specifically focusing on bacterial and heavy metal pollution levels—in their environmental management plans. Based on the findings of these studies, petrol stations are required to implement practical and effective measures to mitigate contamination. This additional requirement reflects a growing recognition of the need for scientific data to drive environmental policy and remediation efforts.
Furthermore, the directive emphasizes that provincial and capital city governors are responsible for ensuring that sanitary facilities at fuel stations are upgraded to meet standard requirements. At the same time, local environmental authorities will oversee the implementation of environmental assessments and management plans. To ensure accountability, governors have been tasked with consolidating local-level compliance reports and submitting them to the ministry by the 25th of each month, with a comprehensive, final report due by September 15 of the following year.
This initiative reflects a broader governmental effort to not only safeguard public health and the environment but also to promote sustainable development practices. By requiring fuel stations to address soil contamination and sanitary standards, the ministry is taking concrete steps to ensure that Mongolia’s natural environment remains clean and safe, while also aligning with global environmental goals. Through improved oversight, regular reporting, and scientifically driven policies, these efforts aim to have a lasting positive impact on the country’s environmental safety.
