[Ulaanbaatar city, January 27 2023] – As a part of the Conditions Precedent to the Compact’s entry into force, MCA-Mongolia, in cooperation with the relevant ministries and agencies, developed “Industrial Pre-Treatment Plan”, which was approved by the Government Resolution No. 53 dated March 03, 2021 and being implemented by the the relevant ministries and agencies under the leadership of the Ministry of Construction and Urban Development.

MCA-Mongolia is funding for the Consulting Services for Developing Industrial Wastewater Treatment Guidelines, which is as part of the Industrial Pre-treatment plan, and a joint-venture of Seureca SAS, a consulting company from France and a local company Eurokhan LLC was selected as a contractor and held a kick-off meeting of the consulting services on January 27, 2023.   

Representatives from MCC Resident Country Mission, MCA-Mongolia and the Consultant as well as from the relevant ministries and agencies, polluting factories, sectoral experts and academic organizations participated in the meeting. 

MCA-Mongolia CEO Ms E.Enkhgerel, in her opening remarks, underlined the importance of successful implementation of IPP for not only creating the normal operation for the new Central Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Water Recycling Plant that will be built under the Compact Agreement, but also solving the long-lasting pollution problems facing the Tuul River ecosystem, and expressed her deep gratitude to all the parties who worked in cooperation and made effort in developing and approving the "Industry Wastewater Pre-treatment Plan" as well as to all parties who are taking part in implemention of the plan.

In addition, she wished success to the joint venture of "Seureka" and "EuroKhan", the consultant for developing Industrial Wastewater Treatment Guidelines, which is a part of the IPP.

“Accomplishing your tasks in a timely and quality manner means you are fulfilling your contractual obligations first of all. However, in the broader picture, you are helping to prevent the Tuul River, the primary source of water supply for the residents of Ulaanbaatar, from pollution, saving it clean for generations to come” she added.

Ms. Tina Yu, MCC Resident Country Director in Mongolia, emphasized that Compact funding or MCC grants are time-bound, so open, practical, and constant cooperation and communication of all parties is vital for completing projects on time.

During the meeting, Ms. L.Unurjargal, Director, Sustainability, MCA-Mongolia provided a general overview of the Mongolia Water Compact and the Consulting Services for Developing Industrial Wastewater Treatment Guidelines and Mr. Frederic Laceze, Project Director, “Seureca” presented on work plan and methodology in detail.

At the end of the meeting, representatives of relevant ministries, government organizations, polluting factories and water sector scientists and researchers expressed their opinions and comments on the work plan and the methodology, and MCA-Mongolia and the contractor team answered the questions from the participants.

Development and approval of the Industrial Pre-Treatment Plan is one of the conditions precedent (CPs) to entry-into-force of the Mongolia Water Compact, signed between the Government of Mongolia and the Millennium Challenge Corporation of the United States. The Government of Mongolia is obliged to implement the IPP, a detailed plan that ensures the chemical load of wastewater discharged from commercial and industrial sites into Ulaanbaatar’s existing central wastewater treatment plant is reduced to the levels observed in 2013 or lower no later than the commissioning of the new CWWTP and shall be reporting through MCA-Mongolia to the MCC as stated in the Compact agreement.

Under the leadership of the Ministry of Construction and Urban Development,  relevant ministries and agencies are implementing 60 measures under the IPP and MCA-Mongolia is covering  the costs of implementation of 1/5 of the planned actions.

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This $462 million project is a partnership between the American and Mongolian people made possible by $350m in MCC grant funding and the $111.76m contribution from the Government of Mongolia which demonstrates their commitment to working together to achieve economic growth and poverty reduction in Ulaanbaatar. The Mongolia Water Compact is funding major infrastructure projects, including the construction of new wellfields and two large plants - an Advanced Water Purification Plant and Wastewater Recycling Plant which will be the first of their kind in Mongolia. In addition, the Compact will invest in policy measures to create a financially and environmentally sustainable future for the water sector of Ulaanbaatar. By 2026, the water system in Ulaanbaatar will have been expanded to deliver 80% more drinking water, allowing for the city’s future expansion.