The World Bank...has announced plans to consider a copper and gold mining project in the Mongolian South Gobi desert even though...there is not enough water in the region to support...the Project. Despite ongoing community opposition to Rio Tinto’s Oyu Tolgoi mine...(“OT Project”), the World Bank is considering a financing package of US$900 million in loans and up to US$1 billion in political risk insurance for the OT Project...The...Project has faced fierce community resistance in Mongolia for years. The company’s recently released Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (“ESIA”) does little to alleviate concerns that the Project will destroy the fragile South Gobi ecosystem, as well as the traditional way of life for the nomadic herders...Other investors...considering the...Project...include the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the U.S. Export Import Bank, Export Development Canada, the Australian Export Finance and Insurance Corporation, Standard Chartered and BNP Paribas. The lack of information in the ESIA about the true impacts of the OT Project is exacerbated by Rio Tinto’s inadequate consultations with the most directly affected nomadic herders...Several herders have already experienced devastating herd loss and other impacts after being forced to resettle because of the OT Project. [The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Rio Tinto to respond. The company’s response is below.]