2 weeks into Mongolia’s fuel shortage, the government has been making decisions at full speed. From rationing to new imports, here’s a timeline of what happened, and how fast things moved.

⏰ Timeline

• 31 July: Mongolia agreed with South Korea on monthly supplies of 20,000 tons each of AI-92 gasoline and diesel, plus 10,000 tons of aviation fuel, with deliveries targeted for August. A separate deal secured 6,000 tons of gasoline from China.
• 3 August: The Emergency Headquarters introduced temporary rationing in Ulaanbaatar, fuel sold by even and odd license plate numbers, limited to ₮50,000 or $13.9 per fill-up, and portable containers banned.
• The same day, the first 1,000 ton shipment of aviation fuel from China arrived at the Zamyn-Uud border checkpoint. China’s Chargé d’Affaires confirmed more volumes would follow.
• 4 August: The U.S. Embassy in Mongolia advised American citizens to postpone or cancel non-essential travel to Mongolia due to the shortage.

5 August

• At a Cabinet meeting the government abolished special excise and customs duties on gasoline and diesel until 1 February 2027, simplified import permits, and allowed limited private imports. Austerity measures were also introduced across government, cancelling non-essential events and travel.
• The government announced that it has secured contracts to import 86,460 tons of AI-92 gasoline, 1,280 tons of AI-95, 178,650 tons of diesel, and 7,000 tons of jet fuel from Russia, China, and South Korea in August.
• A local developer launched benzin.mn, a real-time platform tracking fuel availability at gas stations across Mongolia.

7 August

• Plans to raise the ₮50,000 limit to ₮100,000 were postponed. Tourism companies were allowed to purchase fuel without restrictions.

8 August

• PM N.Uchral met the head of PetroChina Daqing Tamsag and requested a stable monthly supply of 12,000–15,000 tons of AI-92 from China.
• Authorities intensified checks on black-market reselling, warning 7 stations of possible fines or license revocation.
• The PM and ministers inspected new fuel storage construction sites. Of the 22 tanks being built with government soft loans, San Petroleum’s 8,000 m³ facility is due to open on 20 August and is expected to cover about 13 days of Ulaanbaatar’s AI-92 demand.

9 August

• Industry and Mineral Resources Minister G. Damdinnyam made his 9th official trip to Russia since taking office a year ago, as efforts continue to secure stable fuel supplies.

In the end, the fuel shortage became something of an adventurous drama across Mongolia, citizens hunting for open stations, sharing real-time tips, and adapting to new rules day by day. As this new week begins, many are hoping the situation will finally start returning to normal. Whether that hope materializes quickly remains to be seen.