Residents of Gurvantes soum in Ömnögovi province are protesting the “Seker Resources Mongolia” company’s practice of transporting coal via dirt roads through specially protected areas like Gobi Gurvan Saikhan and Tost Tosonbumb. Despite a government resolution (No. 144) supporting the transport, locals claim the company is violating its agreement to build a paved road first. They halted seven coal trucks, demanding the company fulfill its commitment to asphalt the 311km route from Khotgor mine to Shiveekhuren port. Locals report that decades of dirt-road coal transport have turned pastures into dust and coal residue, making livestock farming unsustainable. Other mines in the soum followed a similar pattern, promising asphalt roads but failing to deliver, resulting in years of dust pollution. Residents aren’t against mining, but demand environmental responsibility and adherence to agreed-upon infrastructure plans.