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In November 2023, Mongolia skilled days of intermittent power shortages. To handle the power demand and stop energy outages, Mongolia’s Vitality Regulation Committee imported extra power from Russia and requested individuals to observe energy-saving practices. In 2024, power consultants and Mongolia’s world companions are urging the Mongolian authorities to prioritize the power sector.
On December 4, after a couple of days of electrical energy shortages, the Vitality Regulation Committee launched a utility report monitoring the earlier week’s power utilization. It highlighted a peak load of 1493 megawatts (MW) on November 30. In the meantime, power imports reached 311 MW. Furthermore, in evaluating December 3 to the earlier 12 months, power utilization had elevated from 1421 to 1432 MW, whereas imports rose from 290 to 293 MW.
The final month has illustrated Mongolia’s power vulnerability however what upsets the general public much more is the Mongolian authorities’s — present and former — extended poor decision-making, unpreparedness, and incapability of implementing beforehand proposed or deliberate power growth initiatives to enhance the state of affairs.
In an interview with Bloomberg Mongolia, economist Khashchuluun Chuluundorj highlighted many years of failed power insurance policies. He stated, “Even ten years in the past, Mongolian policymakers had the prognosis of accelerating power demand. There have been many venture proposals and plans, however sadly, none of them have been applied.” Furthermore, “up to now 8 years, there hasn’t been any enchancment within the power sector and the Mongolian authorities must prioritize the power sector in 2024.”
To many Mongolians, power shortages and energy outages usually are not new issues. Nonetheless, this doesn’t imply the nation’s 3.4 million individuals must be complacent with underdevelopment.
The current power scarcity additionally stresses Mongolia’s excessive dependence on Russia’s power provide. It’s a wake-up name for Mongolian policymakers to take daring motion to diversify power sources, speed up renewable power manufacturing, and make it attainable for overseas buyers to spend money on the nation’s power sector.
On December 13, Mongolian Minister of Vitality Choijilsuren Battogtokh introduced Russia’s intent to scale back power provide to Mongolia by half. He stated, “Because of this, it won’t be attainable to obtain greater than 150 MW of power from Russia. The explanation behind this determination is Russia’s intention to prioritize its home power safety by decreasing power exports. As a part of the plan, there will likely be a three-hour day by day electrical energy reduce in Ulaanbaatar metropolis, six provinces, and 150 soums which are a part of the central built-in power system.”
Adopted by a number of conferences, the Cupboard Secretariat of Mongolia launched an announcement that reads, “Alexander Alexandrovich Kozlov, the Head of the Russian a part of the Intergovernmental Fee of Mongolia and Russia, has introduced that there will likely be no restrictions on electrical energy provided from Russia to Mongolia within the close to future.” And that “the intergovernmental fee of the 2 nations will proceed to work on this situation, making certain the graceful provide of electrical energy. As a way to guarantee this, Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene of Mongolia has instructed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Financial Improvement Ch. Khurelbaatar and Vitality Minister B. Choijilsuren to take all mandatory measures.”
Mongolia’s power sector writ massive is instantly linked to Moscow’s power capability. If and when Moscow decides to prioritize its personal home wants, Ulaanbaatar should make use of a sustainable power technique that meets the present power demand but additionally secures the long run.
For many years, Mongolian policymakers have blamed Russia for controlling Mongolia’s power sector. Nonetheless, Russia or another overseas actors usually are not accountable for renewing, or modernizing Mongolia’s energy crops or diversifying power sources. It has change into clear that the Mongolian authorities, together with earlier administrations, has lengthy did not prioritize power and that’s the root explanation for the issue.
Mongolia’s dependency on coal-based power has been the supply of political, social, and well being issues. The nation’s “coal-fired mixed warmth and energy (CHP) crops constituted 93 % of whole energy era within the nation’s Central Vitality System (CES), which accommodated greater than 80 % of the home demand.” Renewable power initiatives and initiatives have been supported by worldwide companions.
Since 2018, the Asian Improvement Financial institution (ADB) has supported a number of renewable power initiatives by offering mushy loans, and commissioning off-grid renewable hybrid power techniques in Altai province. In September, the ADB and the Mongolian authorities launched a grid-connected photo voltaic photovoltaic energy plant in Altai. Along with the ADB and Japanese funding in renewable power initiatives, European companions have proven assist for Mongolia’s power diversification course of.
Additionally in September, the European Union delegation in Mongolia launched an power report, “Why the Transition to Renewable Vitality Ought to Matter to Mongolia and Mongolians” highlighting the nation’s potential in renewable power. The report, in essence, aimed to encourage the Mongolian authorities to pay nearer consideration to its power sector but additionally drew reasonable, implementable examples from Eire, Uzbekistan, and Australia as case research. Furthermore, in a current interview with The Diplomat, U.Okay. Ambassador to Mongolia Fiona Blyth stated she views it as the proper time for Mongolia to diversify its power sources, whereas there’s a lot assist accessible.
In response to the worldwide demand for clear power and important minerals, Mongolian policymakers have been energetic however there’s room for enchancment. Mongolia’s dedication to the Paris Settlement and the U.N. Local weather and Clear Air Coalition 2030 are carefully linked with Ulaanbaatar’s pursuit of reinvigorating its power sector. For these mega initiatives to achieve success and fruitful, Mongolia should sort out corruption and strengthen the nation’s investor profile.
As Ulaanbaatar continues to hunt outward-led overseas coverage, funding in renewable and clear power applied sciences is essential. Whereas Mongolia’s dedication to world initiatives is necessary in the long term, fulfilling home power wants and securing power safety is a urgent situation for present and future governments. The presently positioned energy-saving strategies may go within the quick run. Nonetheless, a strategic power plan, a cohesive technique that improves the nation’s power sector has change into a dire necessity.
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