Ulaanbaatar
Mongolia to Overcome Electricity Shortage
Politics
Ulaanbaatar,
April 21, 2023 /MONTSAME/. President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh visited the
site in Kovd aimag where the Erdeneburen Hydropower plant is being built.
Mongolia produces 80 percent of its
electricity demand while importing the rest from its two neighbors, China and
Russia. The number of energy users has risen by an average of 7-8 percent, and
on the other hand, energy production has increased by 6-7 percent. Thermal
Power Plant-4 and the expanded thermal power plants in Erdenet and Darkhan have
been playing vital roles in handling the peak demands in recent years.
In the winter of 2022-2023, the peak demand
reached 1476 MW. To overcome next winter’s peak demand, negotiations are
continuing on building battery energy storage in the Songino sub-station and
purchasing electricity from China. In addition, the Booroljuut power plant is
expected to be put into operation in 2024.
When the Erdeneburen Hydropower Plant is in
operation, it will create over 100 jobs, as well as have positive effects on
the livihoods of the local citizens by bringing opportunities to develop irrigated
farming and tourism. The annual electricity demand of the western part of
Mongolia is 160 million kWh, of which 40% is produced by the Durgunu Hydropower
Plant. The rest is imported from China and Russia, spending about MNT 20
billion.
The Erdeneburen Hydropower Plant with an installed capacity of 90 MW will produce 366 million kW/h electricity per year and fully satisfy the electricity demand of the region.
