In Mongolia, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU) are working together to address waste management, one of the environmental challenges facing Ulaanbaatar, the country's capital. Only one out of three landfills in Ulaanbaatar is currently sanitary, which is why the EBRD has invested US$ 9.7 million, supported by more than EUR 4.9 million in EU grants, to expand the city’s capacity and modernize the way it manages its solid waste.
Across Mongolia, the connection of people to their environment is a very special one, deeply rooted in the local culture. But the environment has been facing some difficult challenges in recent years, mostly because of the rapid development of the capital city, Ulaanbaatar.
These challenges are partly due to the general trend of urbanization, as in many developing and transition countries. However, there are also some unique factors at play in the city, such as its location in a valley and coal-fired heating across its districts.
A more modern waste infrastructure will bring about significant benefits in environmental protection and public health and will contribute to offering local citizens a better quality of life for the years to come.
The investment will help the city to add much-needed capacity to the existing landfill Moringiin Davaa and turn it into a sanitary one in line with EU standards. At the same time, a new plant will recycle construction and demolition (C&D) waste. This will reduce the use of building material and release capacity on the landfill through lower waste volumes.
The preparation works for construction are underway. The problem of dusty access roads is among those that will be solved in the near future. Recycled construction waste will be used to repave access roads to the landfill. Furthermore, a road sprinkler and water tank will be purchased as part of the project, which will help to control and minimize dust for residents living close by.
The works to build the landfill and construction recycling plant are due to start this year and are expected to be completed in 2023. The improvements are expected to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 18 000 tonnes and save around 100 000 tonnes of material each year.
15 years in Mongolia
This week also marks 15 years since the start of EBRD operations in Mongolia and the establishment of its resident office in Ulaanbaatar. During this time the EBRD has invested US$2.1 billion in various sectors of the national economy. Ninety-three percent of the Bank’s loans were extended to private companies, making the EBRD the largest lender to Mongolia’s private sector out of the international financial institutions (IFIs).
The EBRD is helping to promote the country’s resilience by supporting non-extractive sectors of the economy, providing better access to finance, and improving energy supply. The Bank is also working to improve the sustainability of infrastructure services through greater efficiency, commercialization, and green technologies.
In addition, it is promoting renewable energy generation as well as supporting traditional industries such as the production of cashmere wool. The cashmere sector is one of Mongolia’s key industries; the country is the largest supplier of cashmere wool in the world, accounting for 30 percent of global production.
To date, the EBRD has invested more than US$1.85 billion in Mongolia’s economy through 116 projects.
The EBRD is very proud to have contributed to the development of so many good projects in Mongolia. Our work of making the country’s economy greener, more diversified, sustainable, inclusive and digital, is far from complete. These are the challenges we look forward to tackling, said Hannes Takacs, EBRD Head of Mongolia.
