Interfax about hydroelectric power plants in Mongolia: with all the ensuing consequences

The construction of the hydroelectric power station on the Selenga River and its tributaries in Mongolia can lead to serious environmental consequences for Lake Baikal, Russian experts say.

Mongolia planned the construction of three large hydroelectric power plants at once (with a capacity of 245, 220 and 100 MW) on the Selenga River and its tributaries

Egine-Gole

and Orkhone flowing into Lake Baikal. According to Russian experts, the implementation of these projects can negatively affect both the ecology of the “steppe state” and the regions of our country bordering it.

“In the process of building hydraulic reapes, filling the reservoirs and their further operation, many of the established natural processes - atmospheric, biological, hydrological and geological. The quality of water, its ice and temperature regime will change, and the additional excretion of greenhouse gases leading to the climate change will become possible, and there will also be a threat of flooding of the territories, ”the text of the protocol of the first round of negotiations and expert advice on this topic in the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation cites Izvestia.

In addition, according to the participants in the discussion, a powerful fence of water from the Selenga River will negatively affect the migration of animals, birds and fish, including their rare species. At the same time, scientists do not exclude that the implementation of projects can create additional seismic and epidemiological risks in the regions.

In general, as noted in the protocol, in order to take into account all the possible consequences of the construction of the three hydroelectric power stations, “it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive environmental, social and economic assessment of the energy and water economic projects of Mongolia and their impact on the Selenga River and Lake Baikal”.

“The expediency of these projects, in principle, is not very clear to me. Now the Selenga River is in low water, and all of Mongolia in the same trend: precipitation falls less, there is not enough water. And when the Mongols build their planned hydroelectric power stations, they will have a problem - how to fill the reservoirs. And here are two options: they either have to radically block the rivers, or pick up water along

a little

, as expected, but then the occupancy of the reservoirs will be very, very long, for several years, ”said

Interfax-Russia

.ru Director of the Limnological Institute of the Siberian Branch (Lin CO) Andrei Fedotov.

Russian part of the Selenga, like Baikal, according to the specialist, drying out

because of

The construction of the Mongol hydroelectric power stations, of course, does not threaten. However, with the advent of such stations, according to the scientist, the quality of water in these reservoirs can significantly worsen.

“Selenga has 70% of Russian territory, only 30% remains on the Mongolian part. That is, even if the Selenga in Mongolia is completely dry, we will not happen. And the level of Baikal is compensated by other rivers - Upper Angara, Barguzin. But here

The problem is

Not even in the level of water, but in its quality. The preparation of the bed of reservoirs will undoubtedly affect it. After all these works, the turbidity of water in Selenga and its tributaries, of course, will increase. And the Orkhon is the second after the selenga in the field of the Mongolia River - it is now far from transparent. Therefore, if the selene is completely blocked, then more brown, muddy, “Orkhonskaya” water will go to Russia, ”he explained.

In addition, as the director of the Baikal reserve Vasily Sutula told Izvestia, the quality of water in the Selenga and its tributaries in the future can worsen industrial facilities that will serve the new hydroelectric power stations.

“Electricity with hydroelectric power stations can potentially be intended for ore industry, and this is the risk that its waste and other pollutants can get into the river and then in the lake,” he said.

At the same time, as experts fear, minimize the negative consequences of river overlap after the commissioning of hydroelectric power plants will most likely fail, so the best solution in this situation, in their opinion, could be a rejection of this project. But for this Russia, it is necessary to offer Mongolia or more favorable conditions for the supply of electricity, which it so desperately needs, either

Some

Alternative ways to obtain it. By the way, Russian energy has already voiced several such proposals during the first round of consultations.

So, for example, p

JSC "Inter RAO"

Together with the NP “Market Council”, it proposes to analyze options for optimizing the price of buying electricity, while paying special attention to the increase in the prices of DPM (power supply contracts).

According to Izvestia, citing experts counting, the price of electricity for Mongolia increased by 88% per year instead of its usual 12-13%. The company has already come up with the initiative to change the coefficient of incoming capacity, which would reduce the cost of electricity for the country

Rosseti, in turn, as an alternative, they propose to develop a network infrastructure - to build networks in the south of Mongolia and send excess electricity from Buryatia, Transbaikalia and Irkutsk to the country. “Hydro -project” believes that Mongolia should be abandoned by the “Shuren” hydroelectric power station (hydroelectric power station) in favor of thermal power plants (heat -electrocentral) and GAES (hydro -acumulatory power plant).

“To expand the supply of electricity from Siberia to Mongolia, it is necessary to finalize the rules of the electricity and capacity market, excluding the power supply agreement and forced generation from the export value of the contract. This will cover all the demand of Mongolia without harming Selenga and Baikal. Earlier, the volume of supplies only from the Irkutsk region reached 900 million kWh, and this is about a quarter of the current energy consumption of Mongolia, ”the Eurosibenergo company noted.

In addition, during the meeting, a proposal was made to include Mongolia in the so -called energy ring under the new roadmap.

The fact that Russia can help Mongolia with the decision of its energy problem, is also sure of the member of the Higher Ecological Council, State Duma deputy Oleg Lebedev.

“We have a unique scientific potential, there is an examination in construction, so you can send electricity from Siberia and develop new export agreements. Otherwise, less than 1 thousand GW of electricity will destroy the largest source of fresh water on Earth, destroy the Elenga River delta, deprive the settlements of Buryatia and the Irkutsk region, ”he said.

However, while the optimal solution has not been found. Both parties will continue to discuss this issue at further consultations.

“Among other things, there is also a convention

UN

by cross -border water transfer. This is just the case when the same pond is located in the territory of the two countries. In such a situation, the state cannot be done with such a pool what it wants. Everything is clearly regulated in the document, ”added the director of the Limnological Institute SB RAS.

Natalia Ponomareva, Interfax, May 24, 2016