“ENERGY MONGOLIA-2014” INT'L CONFERENCE RUNNING

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ The second “Energy Mongolia” international conference kicked off Thursday in Ulaanbaatar. The Minister of Energy M.Sonompil addressed its opening, saying that the action is to introduce progressive and environmentally-friendly technologies, present projects and programmes, strengthen Mongolia's competitiveness in the energy, develop in it a cooperation and partnership. Many officials are giving reports on the energy-related issues such as policies, planning, competitiveness, tariff policy, new and renewable sources, new high tech, contribution to reducing air pollution. For the time being, Mongolia has some 11 thousand engineers and technical experts who provide the nation with reliable energy resources. There are also four energy systems, eight thermal power stations and other stations utilizing renewable energy. In 2013, 509 thousand families out of all 794 thousand got connected to centralized electric sources, 120 thousand families transmitted to renewable energy sources. Since Mongolia's energy consumption per capita is 1,889 KWT, relatively lower than the world average, experts suggest that Mongolia improve the economic profit of the energy sector, fortify a tariff system based on realistic value, upgrade financial capability of the associated bodies, and attract investors to the industry. The country needs to urgently pass the law on energy, to transfer the industry into a market principle based on the private sector, and to introduce scientifically-saving technological progress in the consumption, they say. Mongolia has vast resource of energy, so the country can not only provide its own needs, but also export energy, the participants said. The international conference will continue until Friday.