SPEECH BY PRESIDENT KHALTMAAGIIN BATTULGA AT THE “NORTHEAST ASIA REGIONAL POWER SYSTEM INTERCONNECTION” STAKEHOLDERS MEETING
Ladies and gentlemen,
Excellencies Ambassadors,
Representatives of the United Nations and Asian Development Bank,
Scholars, researchers, business people, and representatives of civil society,
A very good morning.
Defining the roadmap for the regional energy cooperation is an important step in creating an interconnected Northeast Asian power system.
During the Eastern Economic Forum that took place in the Russian Federation in September 2018, I have proposed to establish an organization in Ulaanbaatar that has the purpose of intensifying and coordinating the Northeast Asian Super Grid project. This project will provide electricity to the Northeast Asian countries, and not only alleviate the peak-hour pressure off these countries, but provide solution to the optimal utilization of their resources.
I have seen from your researches that the economic relevance of this power super grid is extremely high. This regional power system interconnection offers the most innovative solution in terms of optimizing the electricity production resources, capacity, ultra-high-voltage transmission, and consumers. For example, Mongolia has the potential of producing electricity for 6 cents per kWh, which is three times cheaper than what some of the countries are paying in this region.
As a result of the discussions you are having today, electricity could reach its customers at a much reduced rate. This would have an enormous positive impact on the quality of life of the end consumers in our countries.
In the past, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia as well as the United Nations have all conducted numerous researches and held frequent conferences each on their own. Researchers have pointed out that the fact that this initiative is stalling is due to the low political trust between our countries in the Northeast Asia region.
Mongolia not only has a high level of political understanding with our neighboring and regional countries, but we do not have any dispute with any country at the international level. Mongolia has the necessary prerequisites to successfully implement this project.
With regard to the source of power, Mongolia has abundant resources and vast territory. Because we have more than 300 days of sunshine per year, Mongolia’s production of solar power, in conjunction with wind, coal-powered, and other types of electricity, could alleviate the peak-hour pressure in countries like Japan and South Korea that arise due to the time difference and seasonal factors. There could even be possibilities of Mongolia assuming the role of power storage for other nations.
As the usage of clean and renewable energy is a humane way of protecting our nature and earth, we are confident that citizens of all our nations will support this initiative. I also hope that the international financial institutions such as the Asian Development Bank will back this initiative through extending credit line and offering investment.
To conclude, I would like to reiterate once again my proposal to establish an organization that would successfully implement the Northeast Asian Super Grid and ensure the equal participation of the six nations in our region—Mongolia, Russia, China, Japan, South and North Korea.
Wishing all the best and success to the delegates and esteemed guests who came all the way to our country.
