Can Mongolia become the heart of the world?
May 22 (Mongolian Economy) Sustainable development: These words are just as important to the energy sector as any other. Currently, Mongolia is highly dependent on fossil fuels to meet its energy demands. For example, Mongolia extracts 90 percent of its power supply from coal. When there is additional demand, Mongolia imports energy from its neighbouring countries. Experts warn that this dependency is a weakness to the national security of its energy sector. Well then, is this stable development?
"Sustainable development in the energy sector means a reliable supply for consumers", said the director of the Energy Regulatory Committee, T. Tserenpurev. "Electricity must be supplied to where, when and to whom most need it".
"Further development to the energy sector is a concern for every country. To create sustainable energy development that is suitable to Mongolia, it must develop new policies based on the experiences of other countries and find what suits its policies, strategy and development model best".
Global Trends
The whole world has declared its love for the colour green. The topic has become the talk of the town. The world strives to create a green energy sector with emphasis on renewable energy. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IREA) estimates that 50 percent of world's energy consumption would be generated from renewable energy by 2050.
Mongolia has the capacity to meet all of its energy needs with its renewable energy resources. Mongolia has the second biggest desert in the world after the Sahara, which could provide plenty of solar energy. The Gobi also has great potential for wind power (See Table A). These resources are being utilised little by little.
For example, Newcom is constructing the nation's first wind power plant, which will have a 50-megawatt capacity. There is also the100,000 Sun Rays project, which was first introduced in 2000. This is just the beginning. Chief Executive Officer of Newcom Group B. Byambasaikhan has said Mongolia could become a paradise for renewable and recycled energy.
Tserenpurev echoed that thought, explaining Mongolia's wind and rays are key to stable development.
"Mongolia has enough renewable energy resources from solar and wind. It only needs development", he said. "However, it's even more important that we develop hydro-electrical plants. As a matter of fact, big hydroelectric plants are considered to be the most efficient method to supplying consumers with reliable energy sources. It also happens to be the reason for the stable development of energy".
Politicising Water
Mongolia owns seven power and heating plants that together produce four billion kilowatts of energy every year. However, the nation has imported energy from Russia for the last 40 years whenever consumption has exceeded production capacities.
Consumption in Mongolia is expected to exceed production by 1,128 megawatts during the peak loads by 2020. Although Power Plant No. 5 will have been commissioned by then, energy production still will not be able to keep up.
"Importing energy from Russia isn't as bad as we thought since everything, including the energy sector, is globalising", said Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy D. Zorigt. "However, as we start to think about sustainable energy development, we must reduce our dependency. We must hurry up with the construction of big hydroelectric plants if we are ever to do so."
Talk surrounding construction projects for hydroelectric plants on the Selenge, Orkhon and Egiin Rivers has lingered since 2000. Yet, as usual, politics has halted any progress.
Recently plans to build a chain of hydroelectric plants at the banks of the Selenge River have become a topic for debate. Those working in this sector have carried with them the hope that their dream of having a hydroelectric plant might finally come true ever since President Ts. Elbegdorj proposed to Kuwaiti officials that the two nations cooperate on such a project. The Energy Regulatory Committee is currently procuring the necessary technical details.
Vice Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy T. Enkhtaivan once said in an interview that Mongolia is capable of making up for all it has loss in the past 100 years in just six years time with its potential hydro-energy resources. If this dream comes true, then Mongolia is one step closer to securing its energy needs.
Today, all of the world's combined energy sources are barely enough to supply the world's 10 billion inhabitants. What can we do as that number continues to grow?
The answer is renewable energy, inexhaustible resource from nature. Mongolia happens to have a lot of it. Thus, if we use our resources wisely enough, then Mongolia could become the heart of the world.
"Sustainable development in the energy sector means a reliable supply for consumers", said the director of the Energy Regulatory Committee, T. Tserenpurev. "Electricity must be supplied to where, when and to whom most need it".
"Further development to the energy sector is a concern for every country. To create sustainable energy development that is suitable to Mongolia, it must develop new policies based on the experiences of other countries and find what suits its policies, strategy and development model best".
Global Trends
The whole world has declared its love for the colour green. The topic has become the talk of the town. The world strives to create a green energy sector with emphasis on renewable energy. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IREA) estimates that 50 percent of world's energy consumption would be generated from renewable energy by 2050.
Mongolia has the capacity to meet all of its energy needs with its renewable energy resources. Mongolia has the second biggest desert in the world after the Sahara, which could provide plenty of solar energy. The Gobi also has great potential for wind power (See Table A). These resources are being utilised little by little.
For example, Newcom is constructing the nation's first wind power plant, which will have a 50-megawatt capacity. There is also the100,000 Sun Rays project, which was first introduced in 2000. This is just the beginning. Chief Executive Officer of Newcom Group B. Byambasaikhan has said Mongolia could become a paradise for renewable and recycled energy.
Tserenpurev echoed that thought, explaining Mongolia's wind and rays are key to stable development.
"Mongolia has enough renewable energy resources from solar and wind. It only needs development", he said. "However, it's even more important that we develop hydro-electrical plants. As a matter of fact, big hydroelectric plants are considered to be the most efficient method to supplying consumers with reliable energy sources. It also happens to be the reason for the stable development of energy".
Politicising Water
Mongolia owns seven power and heating plants that together produce four billion kilowatts of energy every year. However, the nation has imported energy from Russia for the last 40 years whenever consumption has exceeded production capacities.
Consumption in Mongolia is expected to exceed production by 1,128 megawatts during the peak loads by 2020. Although Power Plant No. 5 will have been commissioned by then, energy production still will not be able to keep up.
"Importing energy from Russia isn't as bad as we thought since everything, including the energy sector, is globalising", said Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy D. Zorigt. "However, as we start to think about sustainable energy development, we must reduce our dependency. We must hurry up with the construction of big hydroelectric plants if we are ever to do so."
Talk surrounding construction projects for hydroelectric plants on the Selenge, Orkhon and Egiin Rivers has lingered since 2000. Yet, as usual, politics has halted any progress.
Recently plans to build a chain of hydroelectric plants at the banks of the Selenge River have become a topic for debate. Those working in this sector have carried with them the hope that their dream of having a hydroelectric plant might finally come true ever since President Ts. Elbegdorj proposed to Kuwaiti officials that the two nations cooperate on such a project. The Energy Regulatory Committee is currently procuring the necessary technical details.
Vice Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy T. Enkhtaivan once said in an interview that Mongolia is capable of making up for all it has loss in the past 100 years in just six years time with its potential hydro-energy resources. If this dream comes true, then Mongolia is one step closer to securing its energy needs.
Today, all of the world's combined energy sources are barely enough to supply the world's 10 billion inhabitants. What can we do as that number continues to grow?
The answer is renewable energy, inexhaustible resource from nature. Mongolia happens to have a lot of it. Thus, if we use our resources wisely enough, then Mongolia could become the heart of the world.
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