Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/. Millennium Challenge Account Mongolia organized a stakeholder engagement meeting, the first of a series of meetings planned to discuss a draft Industrial Pre-Treatment Plan (IPP), to incorporate recommendations and proposals of key stakeholders into the plan, at the “Consent Hall” of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mongolia.

Representatives from organizations to implement the Industrial Pre-Treatment Plan participated in the first-day discussion, including the Ministry of Construction and Urban Development, Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Ministry of Food Agriculture and Light industry, Water Agency, USUG, Municipality of Ulaanbaatar, Capital City Governor’s office, WSRC, Tuul River’s basin Authority, as well as collaborating organizations, including Mongolian Tax Authority, State General Agency of Specialized Inspection, Metropolitan Professional Inspection Department, UB Environmental Department, OSNAAUG, New Wastewater treatment Plant PIU, Emeelt’s Light Industry and Technology park, Darkhan Light Industry and Technological park, and various research institutes and NGOs.

Head of the Department of Infrastructure Engineering Management Policy, MCUD G.Tsogtsaikhan chaired the event and moderated the discussions. Following the opening remarks, MCA-Mongolia Wastewater Recycling Activity Director T.Khishigt gave a presentation on the draft IPP.

In the beginning of the discussion session, MCA-Mongolia CEO E.Sodontogos reminded, “The Compact funding will only be available after the Government of Mongolia approves the Industrial Pre-Treatment Plan and the Cost Recovery Plan, being developed by the MCA-Mongolia in cooperation with key stakeholders. Upon the completion of this phase, we will be able to start construction works of the planned projects. Therefore, it is equally important for us to openly discuss challenges we face and solutions we seek, and exchange ideas and comments. As a result, the IPP will be submitted to the Government by the MCUD for approval”.

Participants actively engaged in the discussion session and raised interesting comments and points towards the improvement of the plan. Project Implementation Unit’s engineer at the New CWWTP D.Ankhbat highlighted that “According to the Conditions Precedent to the Compact EIF, our short and mid-term goal is to reduce the pollution level of the wastewater going into the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant to the level of 2013. However, we shall not forget that our long-term goal is to continue reducing pollutions to meet the Wastewater standard MNS 6561:2015.”

Development and approval of the Industrial Pre-Treatment Plan is one of the conditions precedent 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 during the Compact implementation period and shall be reporting through MCA-Mongolia to the MCC as stated in the Compact agreement.

Background

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.