Mikhail Shchapov about the plans of Mongolia on the hydroelectric power station in the Selengi basin: "So far we see that the problem has not been solved"

State Duma deputy Mikhail Shchapov, who asked the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov the question of Mongolia's plans for the construction of hydroelectric power plants in the Selengi basin, voiced his position on this problem. According to the parliamentarian, the need to cancel the project is one of the key tasks in preserving Lake Baikal.

The State Duma deputy from the Irkutsk region Mikhail Shchapov, the author of the question of the situation with the construction of the Mongol hydroelectric power stations, which he asked, during the "government hour" to the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. And he received an answer to him: the Foreign Ministry was involved in the problem, and President Vladimir Putin and the head of the government of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev at meetings with the Mongol side were discussed. In general, Russia "has the opportunity to satisfy Mongolia's needs for electricity without risking the ecological system of Lake Baikal."

According to Mikhail Shchapov, the problem of the construction of hydroelectric power stations on the tributaries of Selengi is one of the most critical in the context of the preservation of Lake Baikal. “The inhabitants of our regions have serious concerns that in the case of the construction of hydroelectric power stations on the tributaries of the Selenga River, the lake level may decrease. Baikal is 20% of all world fresh water reserves and 75% - drinking. In the future, it can become a much more valuable strategic resource for our state than oil and gas. I'm not talking about the fact that Baikal itself is a completely unique lake on a planetary scale. This is an amazing gift of nature, the value of which is impossible to measure, neither rubles, nor kilowatts, and our task is to save it, ”the deputy is sure.

He is also glad that the Russian Foreign Ministry and the country's leadership about the problem of the Mongol hydroelectric power stations do not forget and are looking for ways to solve the problem. “For us, such support is extremely important. Just as the readiness of our authorities is important to resolve the issue of providing Mongolia in electricity, is a serious proposal. Unfortunately, so far we see that the problem has not been resolved: the project for the construction of the hydroelectric power station has not been canceled. The Mongol side promised to hold public hearings in Russia, but they still have not taken place. Therefore, I consider it important to both the public and the authorities of the Baikal regions not to relax and continue to actively participate in solving this issue, ”says Schapov.

He is sure that “one cannot but recognize Mongolia the right to develop the national economy, but I would like to hope that the deep scientific justification of our positions will serve that the neighboring state will consider other options for providing itself with energy.”

Recall, as part of a project for supporting investments on the development of infrastructure of the production industry (Minis) in Mongolia in 2012, the design of the Schuren hydroelectric power station (with a capacity of 300 MW) on the Selenga River (hydroelectric power plants and a hydroelectric power station and a chain of reservoirs, with a water utility to the southern gobi area, for supplying an active supply of an active supply to the Southern Gobi River, began. developing mining complex of the country). The design of another hydroelectric power station-at the influx of Selengi, the Aigin-Gol River-with a capacity of 315 MW, is not included in Minis and was previously carried out on a loan from the Chinese Eximbank in the amount of $ 1 billion (last summer the line was frozen-before resolving the disputed issues between Moscow and Ulan Bator). In 2016, the Minis leadership promised to hold public hearings on the projects “Sharen” and “Orkhon” in Buryatia and the Irkutsk region; They were constantly transferred, at the end of last year - on March 2017. The Mongols with Russia were not going to discuss the Egine-Gol project.