A Mongolian coal miner announced Tuesday authorities in the resource-rich country want to suspend some of its licences, after China's Chalco said it planned to take a majority stake in the firm.

The Chinese aluminium producer said this month it aimed to buy up to 60 percent of SouthGobi Resources' shares in a deal valued at HK$7.2 billion ($927 million), according to a statement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

As part of the deal, it would buy out SouthGobi's biggest shareholder, Canada-based Ivanhoe Mines, the statement said.

SouthGobi operates a flagship coal mine -- Ovoot Tolgoi -- which is already providing coal to Chinese customers since it is located just 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the Mongolia-China border.

In Tuesday's statement, the Mongolian company said the Mineral Resources Authority's request for suspension includes the exploration and mining licence pertaining to Ovoot Tolgoi.

"Advice to the company suggests the action has been taken under the broad national security powers of the Government of Mongolia," the firm said in the statement.

It added that the suspension was in connection with Chalco's planned acquisition of a controlling interest in SouthGobi.

Mongolia has opened up its resources to foreign investors in the hope of pulling thousands out of poverty, but the government faces mounting pressure to grab a larger stake of the resources, with parliamentary polls taking place this year.

Ovoot Tolgoi has more than 175 million tonnes of proven and probable surface coal reserves, and some politicians in Mongolia have expressed concern that China will monopolise the deposits with the acquisition.

"The company has noted statements made by various Mongolian stakeholders that there has been little information disseminated to them and no prior government consultation regarding the proposed transaction," SouthGobi said.

"SouthGobi has notified Ivanhoe and Chalco, requesting them to discuss their agreement and the proposed transaction involving the company with the Government of Mongolia."

M. Ariunbayar, acting chairman of the Mineral Resources Authority, told reporters Monday that they planned to suspend the licences "until a definite conclusion is made at state level."