The Energy Policy Council under the President organized an open meeting in the Civil Chamber on Wednesday to discuss issues related to the fifth power station. Advisor of the President L.Dashdorj opened the meeting and said that the National Security Council will discuss the Government decision to build the plant and the EPC also wished to review the matter.
Those who took part included senior officials of the Ministries of Mineral Resources and Energy, of Nature, Environment and Tourism and of Road, Transportation and Urban Development, the Mayor’s Office, energy and heating organizations, and some professional unions. There were also several interested citizens.
Chief of Energy Board of the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy T.Tserenpurev described how three places had been shortlisted as suitable for the station, and finally a site next to the third power station had been selected because construction of infrastructure there would be most cost effective. The plant will have 6 furnaces and 5 turbines, with total production capacity of 820 mW electricity and 1101 G caloric /hour heating. The first phase will be finished in 2015 and the second in 2020. Preliminary estimates put the construction cost at USD1.4 billion.
Participants wanted to know about linkage to the central heating network, disposal of ash, source of funding, profitability, pricing structure, regular coal supply, quality control, monitoring of construction etc. They also suggested a permanent institute to prepare an overall energy policy.
All views expressed at the meeting will be submitted to the National Security Council.