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The Eg Hydropower Plant Undertaking has been mentioned for the previous 30 years, however has repeatedly delayed to this point. Though a few years and enormous sums of cash have been spent on the development of this plant anticipated to cut back the nation’s power dependence on others and considerably enhance renewable power assets, not a single constructing or facility has been constructed to this point.
The Ministry of Vitality clarified, “It isn’t attainable to talk presently,” and the Ministry of Atmosphere and Tourism didn’t present info on the undertaking. In the meantime, a specialist of the Eg Hydropower Undertaking Unit shared Russia’s place on the undertaking. Russia reportedly ‘condemns’ Mongolia for the development of a hydroelectric energy plant on Eg River, saying it will negatively influence Lake Baikal’s ecosystem. The Russian authorities requested for a strategic evaluation of cumulative impacts within the transboundary basin. Lake Baikal is listed as a world heritage website by UNESCO.
“In reference to this, we’ve got chosen a 3rd occasion, a French firm, to show that the plant is not going to hurt the lake’s ecosystem. Its outcomes haven’t been launched as a result of COVID-19 pandemic and will likely be accessible in October. The Russians have constructed 4 hydropower vegetation with a capability of 13,000 MW on Angara River, which will get its supply from Lake Baikal. I hope that the outcomes will likely be made in our favor. The Eg Hydropower Undertaking Unit has three workers. The plant will likely be positioned in Khutag-Undur soum of Bulgan Province. Virtually no work has been completed on this space,” he mentioned.
In response to the premier’s assertion on the parliamentary session final December, it appears that evidently the authorities intends to accentuate the implementation of renewable power initiatives. Nevertheless, it’s unclear what coverage Mongolia is pursuing to hold out hydropower initiatives and whether or not it will likely be ready to take action independently sooner or later. Mongolia at the moment has two everlasting hydropower vegetation and 5 seasonal vegetation, all of which have a low capability (26 MW). There are fears that in 30 years, there will likely be no different hydropower vegetation.
Even the minister of power acknowledged that the present state of affairs within the power sector is tough. There is a excessive danger that the sector will lose its reliability and safety, and that it won’t be able to fulfill its rising electrical energy wants. Consultants commonly reminded that energy vegetation and energy transmission strains are outdated. Nevertheless, no important funding has been made within the sector.
Because the authorities’s power coverage was accredited in 2015, power funding accounted for less than 8.8 % of the required funding, in accordance with a report launched final month by the Mongolian Nationwide Audit Workplace. Immediately, Mongolia provides about 80 % of its power domestically, however it has spent a median of greater than 20 million USD yearly over the previous decade to import electrical energy from Russia. In different phrases, it has not achieved its aim of assembly 85 % of its power wants from home sources by 2020.
Efforts to construct the Eg hydropower plant had been made 4 occasions in 1991, 2006, 2013, and 2017, however 31 years have handed in useless as a consequence of conflicts between Mongolians and the resistance from Russia and UNESCO.
The development of a 315 MW hydropower plant, a 73-kilometer-long transmission line, and a 72-kilometer-long street in Khutag-Undur soum is predicted to cut back power prices by greater than 70 % per yr, however this continues to be a “dream”. The put in power capability of Mongolia is 1,543 MW. The development of the hydropower plant, with a capability of about one-fifth of this, is essential to offer coordination and configuration of the central energy grid.
Traditionally, in 1964, consultants concluded {that a} hydropower plant might be constructed on Eg River. Native scientists and researchers have been cooperating with Soviet consultants on water assets and use in Mongolia since the mid-Fifties. Inside this framework, it was agreed that hydropower vegetation might be constructed on a number of rivers, together with Eg, Taishir, Erdeneburen, Chono Khairaikh and Delgermurun rivers. The Eg River Basin was initially deliberate to have a 220 MW hydropower plant, however in 1996, the federal government estimated that it will price 350 million USD to construct a 300 to 600 MW hydropower plant. It determined to construct a 450 MW hydropower plant in three years with funding from the Malaysian authorities and have it handed over to Mongolia 18 years later. Nevertheless, it was stopped as some lawmakers seen it higher to lift funds from the Czech Republic, not Malaysia.
Dr. B.Ochirjav, who labored as an engineer of the Eg Hydropower Plant Undertaking Unit from 1991 to 1995, mentioned, “Worldwide expertise proves that hydropower vegetation should not dangerous to the atmosphere. It has the benefit of making reservoirs and bettering the surrounding ecosystem. Creating a man-made lake with freshwater from Eg River will generate new water assets. It can even be a mannequin improvement for the financial and tourism sectors. Our nation’s rivers have the potential to generate 65 billion kWh of electrical energy per yr. Sooner or later, we have to pay extra consideration to using river water, make sure the water continues to move, and construct synthetic lakes and dams. The primary cause for the delay within the Eg Hydropower Plant Undertaking is just political affect. Briefly, Russia desires to preserve us energy-dependent.”
In 1991
The Eg Hydropower Undertaking Unit was established underneath the then Ministry of Gasoline and Vitality.
From 1992 to 1995
Funded by the Asian Growth Financial institution (ADB), firms from Switzerland, Italy and Mongolia performed an in depth environmental evaluation of the plant.
On June 9, 2006
Then Prime Minister M.Enkhbold attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Eg hydropower plant.
From November 22 to 27, 2006
Throughout M.Enkhbold’s official go to to China, the Chinese language authorities agreed to present a grant of fifty million CNY and a gentle mortgage of 300 million USD for the development of the plant. Nevertheless, the gentle mortgage’s spending is unclear.
In October 2013
The undertaking unit was re-established and the feasibility examine was developed. The feasibility examine acknowledged that the plant’s capability can be 315 MW and the federal government set a aim to construct a contemporary facility with ecofriendly and superior expertise.
From Might to October 2015
Representatives of Khutag-Undur soum received acquainted with the operation of Taishir and Durgun hydropower vegetation. They introduced the launch of a examine of fish in Eg River and launched a report on the safety of historic and cultural artifacts. The final plan of the brand new location of Khantai bag of Khutag-Undur soum was additionally mentioned by residents.
On April 14, 2016
Throughout his assembly with Russian Overseas Minister Sergei Lavrov, then Prime Minister Ch.Saikhanbileg briefed on the Eg hydropower undertaking.
On Might 18, 2016
Director of Eg Hydropower Undertaking Unit D.Odkhuu (from 2014 to 2016):
The Mongolian aspect determined to take a mortgage from the Export-Import Financial institution of China. Up to now, we have accomplished 97 to 98 % of the work. The development and switch settlement was ready in Mongolian and English. With a Chinese language mortgage, the work will likely be completed by a Chinese language firm and the choice will likely be completed by Mongolians.
We up to date the feasibility examine for the undertaking and accomplished lots of work. It’s a false impression that the development of this energy plant could have a unfavourable influence on the ecosystem of Lake Baikal. Eg River is positioned 600 kilometers from Lake Baikal. A examine on the influence of the development of the plant on Selenge River and Lake Baikal was performed in 2014 by a French engineering firm and its report was despatched to Russia. The examine estimated the environmental influence of the plant on Lake Baikal at 0.023 %, which is virtually no influence. A cross-border water settlement was signed between Mongolia and Russia in 1995. Eg River will not be lined by the transboundary water settlement. From 2014 to 2016, extra than 7 million USD was spent on the plant’s feasibility examine, environmental evaluation, relocation, gear and automobile procurement. The gear and autos bought at the moment had been reportedly offered. Whether or not to construct the Eg hydropower plant is an inside subject of our nation. It doesn’t concern UNESCO or Russia.
From Might 23 to 24, 2016
A gathering was held in Ulaanbaatar to present info to the Russian aspect on hydropower initiatives deliberate to be applied in Mongolia. The perimeters signed a joint protocol, which states, “Russia respects Mongolia’s proper to independently determine on the safety and use of water assets in its territory, and Russia has accepted Mongolia’s assertion to proceed the implementation of the Eg Hydropower Plant Undertaking and the preliminary infrastructure concession.”
Fall of 2016
The Chinese language crew that got here to construct a bridge over Eg River abruptly stopped its work and refused to proceed. They defined, “With out permission from Russia, we won’t be able to proceed financing or take part on this development work.”
On April 12, 2017
The federal government established a state-owned firm, Eg Hydropower Plant, and appointed B.Otgonsukh as its director. At that point, they reported, “The Eg Hydropower Plant Undertaking Unit, which up to date the feasibility examine and accomplished detailed environmental assessments together with different research on power markets, earthquakes, seismic surveys, archeology, rescue operations, fish and aquatic life research, and detailed infrastructure drawings, was disbanded and a state-owned firm was set as much as take over the work.”
On April 20, 2017
Head of Engineering and Technical Division of state-owned Eg Hydropower Plant Firm D.Budkhuu:
The undertaking was scheduled to start in 2006 with a gentle mortgage from China, however its work was stopped after a brand new Mongolian authorities was fashioned. Mongolian and Russian scientists will meet within the first half of this yr to debate the plant’s influence on the hydrogeology of Lake Baikal. We try to show that this work has little impact on Lake Baikal. The Russians are saying that Lake Baikal will dry up. Their love for Lake Baikal sparks once more solely after we speak about constructing a hydropower plant on Eg River.
In Might 2017
The World Heritage Committee of UNESCO warned Mongolia that the undertaking would have a unfavourable influence on the ecosystem of Lake Baikal, which has a novel pure construction and makes up greater than 10 % of the world’s freshwater assets. The federal government of Mongolia was requested to touch upon the undertaking aimed to construct a hydropower plant on Eg River within the Selenge River Basin, the biggest tributary of Lake Baikal.
In 2019
A French firm was chosen to find out the influence of the development of the Eg hydropower plant on Selenge River and Lake Baikal. Nevertheless, the work was halted as a consequence of COVID-19 and border closure.
On November 29, 2021
Deputy Prime Minister S.Amarsaikhan:
Mongolia pursues a coverage of mutually useful financial cooperation with different nations. In this context, the Eg hydropower plant and different power initiatives had been extensively mentioned. The Russian aspect has not clearly acknowledged whether or not it will take part within the undertaking in concern it may have a unfavourable influence on the atmosphere. Subsequently, we are ready to collectively examine how this undertaking will have an effect on the atmosphere and defend border rivers. There are not any misunderstandings or critical issues. There was no speak of stopping the undertaking.
Vitality Minister N.Tavinbekh:
A request has been made to conduct a examine on the influence of the development of the hydropower plant on different rivers flowing to and from Lake Baikal. To do that, an open worldwide tender was introduced and a French firm was chosen in 2019. Work has been delayed as a result of pandemic, however analysis is ongoing. We plan to launch an analysis report subsequent yr. It is going to be delivered to Russia and the World Heritage Fund. After that, we’ll focus on the matter once more.
On December 30, 2021
Prime Minister L.Oyun-Erdene:
The federal government’s coverage on the development of nuclear and hydrogen energy sources must be decided immediately. Let’s make renewable power a precedence, full the development of the Erdeneburen hydropower plant and do our greatest to begin the Eg Hydropower Plant Undertaking.
Undertaking funds and bills
• In 1992, ADB offered 1.4 million USD in technical help.
• From 1992 to 1995, an environmental evaluation and the primary feasibility examine had been developed. A complete of 5.2 million USD was spent on this work, with a 3.8 million USD gentle mortgage from ADB and 1.4 million USD grant.
• In response to Growth Financial institution of Mongolia’s 2014 report, 5.1 million USD was offered for consulting providers, analysis, and undertaking unit working prices. The development of the plant was scheduled to start in 2015 and be accomplished between 2019 and 2020. On September 26, 2017, a ten.6 million USD mortgage was offered for the undertaking, however it was categorized as a non-performing mortgage.
• In November 2015, the federal government of Mongolia and the Export-Import Financial institution of China signed a 1 billion USD grasp mortgage settlement. At that point, the federal government defined that of this mortgage, 703.5 million USD can be spent on the Eg hydropower plant undertaking, however it isn’t clear how a lot has been spent. At the moment, the required bills for the undertaking are lined by the power minister’s portfolio allotted from the state funds.
• In response to the web site Tender.gov.mn, Eg Hydropower Plant SOEC introduced 4 tenders between August and November 2018 and in January 2019. Specifically, the price of every tender for consulting providers was 1.5 billion MNT.
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