S. Narantsogt: Large-scale projects can be implemented in the mineral and industrial sectors in cooperation with Germany
EconomyUlaanbaatar, June 12, 2023 /MONTSAME/. The 9th Meeting of the Mongolian-German Economic Committee convened in Ulaanbaatar on June 5, 2023. The meeting was chaired by Mr.S.Narantsogt, CEO of "Erdenes Mongol" LLC, and Mr.Hans-Christoph Brumberg, CEO and Asia Regional Director of “WPD” LLC, which operates in the field of development and financing of renewable energy projects, the head of the German side of the committee.
Representatives
from private enterprises and organizations of the two countries participated in
the meeting and exchanged opinions on the possibilities of developing business
cooperation.
We
have discussed and got detailed clarification from Mr.S.Narantsogt, CEO of
"Erdenes Mongol" LLC, about the issues discussed at the meeting and the results
of the meeting.
-First
of all, please tell us about when was the Mongolian-German Economic Committee
established and what are its responsibilities.
The
representatives of the meeting of the Mongolian-German Economic Committee aim
to make a real contribution to the development of mutually beneficial
cooperation between the two countries. The Agreement between the Government of
Mongolia and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany on "Cooperation
in Minerals, Industry and Technology" was first signed in October 2011.
The
Economic Committee has an important role in implementing the agreement,
connecting Mongolian and German business owners, opening the doors to joint
projects and programs, presenting the policies implemented by the governments
of the two countries to business owners, and thus strengthening the relations
between the economy and citizens of the two countries.
-What
is the level of economic cooperation between the two countries?
Mongolia established diplomatic relations with Germany in 1974. Next year will mark
the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the
two countries.
After
the pandemic, trade, and economic cooperation between the two countries have
been restored, and by 2022, the trade turnover has reached 208 million US
dollars. Out of this, the total export amount reached 26.0 million US dollars and the total import amount reached 182.8 million US dollars. Mongolia mainly exported
food and agricultural staples and imported technical equipment, staple food
products, and petroleum products from Germany.
Relations
and cooperation between the two countries are rapidly developing in the defense,
education, culture, environment, and humanitarian sectors.
-What
issues were discussed at this 9th Meeting of the Mongolia-German Economic
Committee?
More
than 80 participants representing 40 entities from the mining, renewable
energy, logistics, and education sectors participated in the meeting and
exchanged opinions on the development of cooperation. Also, private sector
enterprises and organizations showcased their prospective projects, while
government ministries presented policy and legislative reforms.
-In
which fields of the economy did the Mongolian side express their interest in
cooperation with Germany?
Specific
proposals for cooperation in the fields of minerals, renewable energy,
education, transport, and logistics were made at this meeting. For example, it
has been emphasized that the primary focus of our bilateral cooperation should
be on facilitating German investment in the exploration, extraction, and
processing of critical and rare minerals to foster a sustainable supply from
Mongolia.
The
two countries believe that it is possible to jointly implement large-scale
projects in the mineral and industrial sectors. For example, to process iron
ore and produce high-quality steel. In addition, it has discussed the
possibility of increasing the investment of German companies for conveyor
systems in the stripping and extraction of open-pit mines. They expressed their
interest in mutually beneficial cooperation by establishing a clear direction
for partnership in collaborative research, exploration, extraction, and processing
of specific rare metals and rare earth elements.
-What
are the solutions for renewable energy cooperation between the two countries?
Considering
the persistent challenges faced by the wind power plant project over the years,
it is deemed essential to present the following proposals to the
intergovernmental working group as a top priority in this sector.
There
is a need for cooperation between the parties in the implementation of the wind
farm contract.
In
addition, we noted in the conclusion of the meeting that exploring alternative
solutions and technological advancements to make further opportunities through
government grants and support for generating non-fluctuating electricity at the
wind plants, which have been commissioned by private sector investors from
Germany should be considered.
-What
solutions do you see at the government level to solve the problem of the high
cost of renewable energy production?
It
is suggested to issue a governmental decision that promotes the establishment
of a systematic framework for collecting renewable energy payments in one
dedicated account or fund and use that fund only for the purpose of addressing
the challenges associated with renewable energy production.
In
addition, in case of building a new renewable energy station in the future, it
is advisable to provide the standard technological requirements for the
construction of the station in the combined form of solar and wind with an
energy storage solution and ensure its implementation.
-What
are the possibilities of cooperation with Germany in the field of education?
Within
the framework of supporting companies investing in and operating in the mining and
renewable energy, it was considered possible to strengthen the infrastructure
of teaching and research laboratories in Mongolian universities and foster the
advancement of specialized training programs. In particular, both parties
agreed to diversify the activities of the German-Mongolian Institute for Resource
and Technology in Nalaikh in the field of science and technology.
In
this context, relevant institutions from both countries must collaborate to
ensure that students from the German-Mongolian Institute for Resource and
Technology, as well as those studying specialized professions in Germany, have
the opportunity to receive training within German-invested companies operating
in Mongolia.
-From the German side, they made an offer that can be implemented in the air transport
sector in our country. What was their offer?
Given
the vastness of Mongolia, the German side presented that it is possible to
develop the general aviation sector, which is low-cost flight services with
small helicopters. As it is important for the development of mining and
tourism, the parties agreed during the negotiations that the civil aviation
authorities of the two countries should work together to come up with specific solutions
in a short period of time.
To
summarize, the 9th meeting of the Mongolia-German Economic Committee concluded
successfully, promoting new ideas and initiatives among the two countries'
private sector institutions, addressing the challenges faced by these
institutions, and proposing viable solutions.