JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – US coal-miner Peabody Energy has completed Mongolia's first coal mine restoration project at the former Ereen mine near the city of Bulgan.

The project restored a 16-ha area to hardy pastureland with native forage species, and developed a new community well and a surface pond for livestock.

"Peabody is proud to work with the Mongolian people to create a model for best practices in mining and land restoration that leaves a valuable legacy," said Peabody chairperson and CEO Gregory Boyce.

The project as designed in consultation with the Mongolian government and developed by an international team, which included Peabody environmental scientists and engineers, Mongolian engineers from Peabody's Mongolian joint venture, the Mongolian Agricultural University and Dr. D. Tumenjargal of the Mongolian Forage Seed Producers Association.

A local Mongolian workforce carried out restoration activities.

Peabody has a representative office in Ulaanbaatar and is working with the government to pursue development opportunities for the Tavan Tolgoi reserve.

Mongolia is strategically located to serve high-demand China and Asia markets, which are expected to represent about 90% of coal's demand growth in the next two decades.