Energy Security and Mongolia’s Achilles’ Heel

Mongolia faces challenges in securing a sustainable energy future, balancing geopolitical dependencies with infrastructure and renewable needs.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's capital, endures harsh winters worsened by chronic power shortages and energy rationing, highlighting the city's urgent need for modernized energy infrastructure.

The aging Thermal Power Plant No. 3 (TPP-3), a coal-fired facility responsible for 32% of Ulaanbaatar's heat and 16% of the central region's electricity, struggles with frequent failures, jeopardizing the city's energy security during critical months.

Mongolia is considering to partner with Russia to modernize this plant—at a staggering cost of €1.3 billion—has sparked debates over cost-effectiveness, geopolitical dependencies, and long-term energy strategies.