Development prospects of coal-fired power industry in Mongolia

Significant resources of high-quality coal in Mongolia provide the conditions for the development of coal production for domestic consumption by the energy sector as well as for the export of coal and electric power. High availability of coal reserves allows to consider coal as a reliable long term source of fuel. Among the sources of energy coal is the most important fuel in Mongolia. Retrospectively its percentage in primary energy resources consumption was from 60 to 80%. The main consumers of coal are power engineering facilities. The study uses the official statistics and the documents of official Mongolian and international bodies. The study has been conducted using system analysis methods. The article overviews the state of the Mongolian energy sector. The leading role of coal in provision power plants with fuel is shown. The coal reserves suitable for the use at Mongolian power plants are estimated. The main qualitative characteristics of coal deposits are given including calorific value, content of ash, sulfur and moisture. The construction projects of coal-fired power plants are presented. In the future, coal will continue to be one of the main fuel and energy resources in the fuel and energy balance of Mongolia. Further development of the Mongolian coal-fired power industry depends on the possibilities of increasing the volumes of geological exploration, development of transport and production infrastructures, growth of the internal and domestic markets of electrical power and mineral resources. The spatial location of Mongolia, availability of significant coal resources necessary for the development of the energy sector, the relevance and interest in increasing the domestic consumption of energy creates favorable conditions for Mongolia’s participation in the Asian Super Grid - Interstate energy associations in Northeast Asia. International companies are involved in the development and implementation of various projects related to coal, which significantly increases the opportunities for the development of coal-fired power industry in Mongolia.

Mongolia, energy sector, power plant, coal, reserves, consumption, projects, export

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