Ochirbat Punsalmaa, a prominent state and social figure and the first President of Mongolia, passed away on January 17, 2025, at the age of 82.
He was born on January 23, 1942, in Bunkhantiin, Tudevtei soum, Zavkhan province. P.Ochirbat graduated from Zavkhan province’s secondary school in 1960 and pursued mining engineering at the Leningrad Mining Institute in the USSR, completing his studies in 1965.
He began as a specialist at the Ministry of Industry (1965–1967) and served as chief engineer at the Shariinn Gol mine (1967–1972). His notable positions included Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Fuel, Energy Industry, and Geology (1972–1976), Minister of Fuel and Energy (1976–1985), and Chairman of the State Committee for Foreign Economic Relations (1985–1987). In 1987-1990, he served as Minister of Foreign Economic Relations and Supply, and later as Chairman of the Parliament of the Mongolian People’s Republic (March–September 1990).
In September 1990, P.Ochirbat became the first President of the Mongolian People’s Republic, serving until February, 1992. He was re-elected in the country’s first presidential election under the new Constitution in 1993 and served as President of Mongolia until 1997.
Beyond politics, P.Ochirbat made significant contributions to academia and social development. He founded the Ochirbat Foundation in 1997, led the Center for Ecological and Sustainable Development at the Mongolian State University of Technology starting in 2000, and served as a member of the Constitutional Court of Mongolia from 2005. He authored over 20 books and numerous articles on political and scientific research, including “The Development of Mongolian Democracy” and “Tengeriin Tsag”.
P.Ochirbat was Ph.D of Technical Sciences, and a member of the International Academy of Sciences for Ecological Safety. He received numerous accolades, including honorary doctorates from international institutions, the "Order of Chinggis Khan", and the Soviet Miner’s Orders of Glory (1st, 2nd, and 3rd degrees).
During his tenure as Deputy Minister, he played a key role in developing the Erdenet copper and molybdenum deposits and chaired the Mongolian section of the Mongolian-Soviet joint mining enterprise, "Erdenet," in 1974-1976.
P.Ochirbat's legacy as a leader, scholar, and advocate for Mongolia’s development and democracy endures.
Ochirbat Punsalmaa, a prominent state and social figure and the first President of Mongolia, passed away on January 17, 2025, at the age of 82.
He was born on January 23, 1942, in Bunkhantiin, Tudevtei soum, Zavkhan province. P.Ochirbat graduated from Zavkhan province’s secondary school in 1960 and pursued mining engineering at the Leningrad Mining Institute in the USSR, completing his studies in 1965.
He began as a specialist at the Ministry of Industry (1965–1967) and served as chief engineer at the Shariinn Gol mine (1967–1972). His notable positions included Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Fuel, Energy Industry, and Geology (1972–1976), Minister of Fuel and Energy (1976–1985), and Chairman of the State Committee for Foreign Economic Relations (1985–1987). In 1987-1990, he served as Minister of Foreign Economic Relations and Supply, and later as Chairman of the Parliament of the Mongolian People’s Republic (March–September 1990).
In September 1990, P.Ochirbat became the first President of the Mongolian People’s Republic, serving until February, 1992. He was re-elected in the country’s first presidential election under the new Constitution in 1993 and served as President of Mongolia until 1997.
Beyond politics, P.Ochirbat made significant contributions to academia and social development. He founded the Ochirbat Foundation in 1997, led the Center for Ecological and Sustainable Development at the Mongolian State University of Technology starting in 2000, and served as a member of the Constitutional Court of Mongolia from 2005. He authored over 20 books and numerous articles on political and scientific research, including “The Development of Mongolian Democracy” and “Tengeriin Tsag”.
P.Ochirbat was Ph.D of Technical Sciences, and a member of the International Academy of Sciences for Ecological Safety. He received numerous accolades, including honorary doctorates from international institutions, the "Order of Chinggis Khan", and the Soviet Miner’s Orders of Glory (1st, 2nd, and 3rd degrees).
During his tenure as Deputy Minister, he played a key role in developing the Erdenet copper and molybdenum deposits and chaired the Mongolian section of the Mongolian-Soviet joint mining enterprise, "Erdenet," in 1974-1976.
P.Ochirbat's legacy as a leader, scholar, and advocate for Mongolia’s development and democracy endures.