Energy

The power and heating, hydrocarbons, renewable and nuclear segments of Mongolia’s energy structure are all undergoing important changes. These are occurring as the country tries to move away from its old dependency on one major fuel source – coal – and on its two giant neighbours – Russia and China.

With much of Mongolia’s current electricity and heating needs being met by coal, energy planners have in recent times been looking much more closely at diversifying the mix. A front-runner for future generating capacity is renewable energy (RE), with solar and wind power both likely to be major providers. Indeed, the country’s first new power...

When it comes to petroleum products, Mongolia is completely dependent on imports from its neighbours – and particularly its northern neighbour, Russia. Meanwhile, its domestic crude oil production currently heads south to refineries in China. Recognising that this arrangement is far from optimal for Mongolia, the oil and gas downstream sector is...

While in the early stages, ambitious plans to develop a nuclear power industry will likely be put into motion in the years ahead, as will developments to expand the country’s uranium mining assets. This could position Mongolia as a leading player in the Asian nuclear fuels market, with high demand for feedstock and power.

Bounded by Russia to the north and China to the south, Mongolia is a vast country and sparsely populated – larger than Western Europe, but with a population of barely 3m people. The country of wind-swept steppes, plains and deserts is famous for its nomadic tradition, still influential despite rapid development. However, stable and democratically-...

The year 2012 seems likely to be a defining one for the Mongolian mining sector. The size of the country’s considerable mineral wealth has not yet been determined, but the involvement of many of the world’s largest mining companies is a testament to the sector’s potential. Several milestones are expected in 2012, including the launch of commercial...