In November 2023, Mongolia skilled days of intermittent vitality shortages. To handle the vitality demand and stop energy outages, Mongolia’s Energy Regulation Committee imported extra vitality from Russia and requested individuals to observe energy-saving practices. In 2024, vitality consultants and Mongolia’s world companions are urging the Mongolian authorities to prioritize the vitality sector.
On December 4, after just a few days of electrical energy shortages, the Energy Regulation Committee launched a utility report monitoring the earlier week’s vitality utilization. It highlighted a peak load of 1493 megawatts (MW) on November 30. Meanwhile, vitality imports reached 311 MW. Moreover, in evaluating December 3 to the earlier 12 months, vitality utilization had elevated from 1421 to 1432 MW, whereas imports rose from 290 to 293 MW.
The final month has illustrated Mongolia’s vitality 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 vitality growth tasks to enhance the state of affairs.
In an interview with Bloomberg Mongolia, economist Khashchuluun Chuluundorj highlighted a long time of failed vitality insurance policies. He stated, “Even ten years ago, Mongolian policymakers had the prognosis of increasing energy demand. There have been many project proposals and plans, but unfortunately, none of them have been implemented.” Moreover, “in the past 8 years, there hasn’t been any improvement in the energy sector and the Mongolian government needs to prioritize the energy sector in 2024.”
To many Mongolians, vitality shortages and energy outages are usually not new issues. However, this doesn’t imply the nation’s 3.4 million individuals needs to be complacent with underdevelopment.
The current vitality scarcity additionally stresses Mongolia’s excessive dependence on Russia’s vitality provide. It is a wake-up name for Mongolian policymakers to take daring motion to diversify vitality sources, speed up renewable vitality manufacturing, and make it doable for overseas traders to put money into the nation’s vitality sector.
On December 13, Mongolian Minister of Energy Choijilsuren Battogtokh introduced Russia’s intent to cut back vitality provide to Mongolia by half. He stated, “As a result, it will not be possible to receive more than 150 MW of energy from Russia. The reason behind this decision is Russia’s aim to prioritize its domestic energy security by reducing energy exports. As part of the plan, there will be a three-hour daily electricity cut in Ulaanbaatar city, six provinces, and 150 soums that are part of the central integrated energy system.”
Followed by a number of conferences, the Cabinet Secretariat of Mongolia launched an announcement that reads, “Alexander Alexandrovich Kozlov, the Head of the Russian part of the Intergovernmental Commission of Mongolia and Russia, has announced that there will be no restrictions on electricity supplied from Russia to Mongolia in the near future.” And that “the intergovernmental commission of the two countries will continue to work on this issue, ensuring the smooth supply of electricity. In order to ensure this, Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene of Mongolia has instructed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development Ch. Khurelbaatar and Energy Minister B. Choijilsuren to take all necessary measures.”
Mongolia’s vitality sector writ giant is instantly linked to Moscow’s vitality capability. If and when Moscow decides to prioritize its personal home wants, Ulaanbaatar should make use of a sustainable vitality technique that meets the present vitality demand but additionally secures the long run.
For a long time, Mongolian policymakers have blamed Russia for controlling Mongolia’s vitality sector. However, Russia or every other overseas actors are usually not accountable for renewing, or modernizing Mongolia’s energy vegetation or diversifying vitality sources. It has turn into clear that the Mongolian authorities, together with earlier administrations, has lengthy didn’t prioritize vitality and that’s the root reason behind the issue.
Mongolia’s dependency on coal-based vitality has been the supply of political, social, and well being issues. The nation’s “coal-fired combined heat and power (CHP) plants constituted 93 percent of total power generation in the country’s Central Energy System (CES), which accommodated more than 80 percent of the domestic demand.” Renewable vitality tasks and initiatives have been supported by worldwide companions.
Since 2018, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has supported a number of renewable vitality tasks by offering mushy loans, and commissioning off-grid renewable hybrid vitality methods in Altai province. In September, the ADB and the Mongolian authorities launched a grid-connected photo voltaic photovoltaic energy plant in Altai. In addition to the ADB and Japanese funding in renewable vitality tasks, European companions have proven assist for Mongolia’s vitality diversification course of.
Also in September, the European Union delegation in Mongolia launched an vitality report, “Why the Transition to Renewable Energy Should Matter to Mongolia and Mongolians” highlighting the nation’s potential in renewable vitality. The report, in essence, aimed to inspire the Mongolian authorities to pay nearer consideration to its vitality sector but additionally drew reasonable, implementable examples from Ireland, Uzbekistan, and Australia as case research. Moreover, in a current interview with The Diplomat, U.Okay. Ambassador to Mongolia Fiona Blyth stated she views it as the right time for Mongolia to diversify its vitality sources, whereas there may be a lot assist out there.
In response to the worldwide demand for clear vitality and demanding minerals, Mongolian policymakers have been energetic however there may be room for enchancment. Mongolia’s dedication to the Paris Agreement and the U.N. Climate and Clean Air Coalition 2030 are carefully linked with Ulaanbaatar’s pursuit of reinvigorating its vitality sector. For these mega tasks 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 vitality applied sciences is essential. While Mongolia’s dedication to world initiatives is essential in the long term, fulfilling home vitality wants and securing vitality safety is a urgent situation for present and future governments. The presently positioned energy-saving strategies may fit within the brief run. Still, a strategic vitality plan, a cohesive technique that improves the nation’s vitality sector has turn into a dire necessity.
Source web site: thediplomat.com
