Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/. Last week, Minister for Environment and Tourism D.Sarangerel met with Millennium Challenge Account Mongolia CEO E.Sodontogos, Deputy CEO S.Zorigt, Downstream Wells Activity Director B.Batsukh and Environmental and Social Performance Director T.Dashzeveg. 

MCA-Mongolia CEO E.Sodontogos introduced a brief overview of Mongolia Water Compact and its activities, and MCA-Mongolia line directors provided information on the status of the Program implementation, as well as environmental and social impact assessments being carried out and Environmental and Social Management System to manage environmental and social risks and impacts related to the implementation of all the Projects under the Compact. Thereafter, parties updated views on roles and involvement of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) in the Program implementation.

MCA-Mongolia CEO E.Sodontogos highlighted the significance of MET roles, support and cooperation in successful implementation of the Program aimed to expand bulk water supply in Ulaanbaatar and fulfilment of the Mongolian Government commitments and obligations under the Compact, and expressed expectation on active cooperation and continued support.

Minister of Environment and Tourism D.Sarangerel extended her gratitude to MCA-Mongolia representatives for providing comprehensive information and a clear understanding on Program activities under the Compact and MET roles and involvement in the Compact implementation. Minister D.Sarangerel said that the Ministry will continue cooperation in implementation of the Program and take its part in fulfilment of the Government commitments and obligations under the Compact.  The Minister also expressed that the Ministry is ready to take part in public awareness and behavior change campaigns, a crucial part of Program activities under the Compact emphasizing benefits of cooperation for this part.

At the end of the meeting, MCA-Mongolia representatives handed over Tuul River Sediment Sampling Report, funded by the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation, to the Minister of Environment and Tourism D.Sarangerel. The study, aimed to quantify the settled solids and characterize the contaminants in Tuul River sediments downstream of the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant (CWWTP) effluent discharge, which was conducted for the first time as a part of MCA-Mongolia Bulk Water Supply Project. Therefore, MCA-Mongolia proposed the Minister to use the Report as an opportunity to remove the accumulated sludge in Tuul River bed and remediate the river ecosystem through collaborating with donor organizations.

Mongolia Water Compact aims to provide a sustainable supply of water to Ulaanbaatar through funding the development of two new groundwater wellfields and the construction of an Advanced Water Purification Plant to treat up to 50 million cubic meters/year of water extracted from the new wellfields to the highest drinking water quality standards and supply to the central network of the city, as well as the construction of Wastewater Recycling Plant that will treat 50,000 cubic meters/day of the effluent from new CWWTP and convey the recycled water to Combined Heating and Power plants number three and four (CHP-3 and CHP-4) for technical use. The Compact also includes a Water Sector Sustainability Activity which will enhance the long-term sustainability of UB city water and wastewater system while ensuring that the Compact activities have lasting benefits.

Background 

Millennium Challenge Account - Mongolia is a state-owned enterprise established by the decision of the Government of Mongolia on October 3, 2018, pursuant to Government Resolution No 297 in accordance with Section 3.2 of the Compact to implement the Program under the 350 million USD Mongolia Water Compact signed with the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a U.S. government foreign aid agency. 

The Millennium Challenge Corporation is an independent U.S. government agency working to reduce global poverty through economic growth.  Created in 2004, MCC provides time-limited grants and assistance to poor countries that meet rigorous standards for good governance, from fighting corruption to respecting democratic rights.  Learn more about MCC at www.mcc.gov.

MCA-Mongolia