[Ulaanbaatar, February 2, 2021] – The Working Groups established by the orders of the Minister of Construction and Development and the Governor of the Capital City respectively to ensure the fulfillment of the Government obligations under the Compact held a joint meeting to discuss the draft “Industrial Pre-Treatment Plan”.
The Minister of Construction and Urban Development B.Munkhbaatar, Head of MCUD Working Group, Deputy Minister of Construction and Urban Development E.Zolboo, Head of MUB Working Group General Manager of Ulaanbaatar and Head of the Governor's Office T.Gantumur took part in the meeting. Head of the Public Utilities Policy Implementation Coordination Department, MCUD G.Tsogtsaikhan, senior expert P.Ganbaatar, senior specialist of the City Engineering Facilities Department of the Ulaanbaatar Mayor's Office L.Altangerel, Head of the USUG Engineering Policy Department N.Odkhuu, Senior state inspector of the General Agency for Specialized Inspection B.Bayasgalan, Senior Specialist of Licensing Office, Water Services and Regulatory Commission E.Nyamsuren and other officials as Working Group members, and Head of the Mongolian Leather Association B.Bayarsaikhan representing polluting factories, as well as MCC Resident Country Director Alex Russin, MCA-Mongolia CEO E.Sodontogos, Wastewater Recycling Activity Director T.Khishigt and Water Sector Sustainability Activity Director L.Unurjargal were present at the meeting.
At the meeting, MCA-Mongolia CEO E.Sodontogos and Wastewater Recycling Activity Director T.Khishigt gave a detailed presentation on the draft “Industrial Pre-Treatment Plan”, developed by MCA-Mongolia in cooperation with the relevant ministries, agencies as well as representatives of private enterprises or polluters aiming to reduce the chemical load of wastewater discharged from commercial and industrial sites into Ulaanbaatar’s existing central wastewater treatment plant to the levels observed in 2013 or lower no later than the commissioning of the new CWWTP. The presentation was followed by a constructive discussion on the draft plan.
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. After meeting the conditions precedent, the $350 million grant will be available for Compact implementation and the five-year timeline will officially begin to be counted.
At the end of the meeting, the relevant parties, such as the Ministry of Construction and Urban Development, the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and Municipality of Ulaanbaatar as well as representatives of polluting factories came to the decision to work together to clarify some of the estimates in the plan as well as investments required for the implementation and specify the role of the implementing parties and agreed to discuss the final draft again within this month before submitting it for Government approval.
Successful implementation of the Industrial Pre-Treatment Plan will reduce pollution in wastewater discharged from commercial and industrial sites into the central wastewater collection network and further to the natural waterways, Tuul river after treatment and create a basic condition for the normal operation of the Wastewater Recycling Plant, which will be constructed under the Compact.
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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.