Finland’s clean energy solutions raise interest in Mongolia

This week, a Mongolian delegation composed of public officials from several ministries is visiting Finland to learn about heat pump technology and other energy solutions related to the supply of heat. Besides the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the delegation will meet representatives of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, Business Finland, Nordic Development Fund and Finnish Energy. The visit is part of an energy sector project funded by the Asian Development Bank that aims to find alternative forms of renewable energy production in Mongolia.

Mongolia is actively seeking solutions for the green transition in the energy sector. The country wishes to increase the share of renewable energy and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Mongolian people are facing extremely low temperatures in winter, and now they are looking for solutions in Finland. Energy is one of the possible areas of cooperation between Finland and Mongolia where Finnish companies have expertise that is highly relevant to the Mongolian people.

“Finland has succeeded in effectively reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the supply of heat. Finnish energy solutions can help Mongolia in the efforts to achieve the green transition”, says Juha Niemi, Deputy Director General of the Department for the Americas and Asia.

The Mongolian energy sector is highly dependent on the country’s vast coal resources. More than 90% of the electricity production in Mongolia is based on coal power, which is also used to produce heat for urban heat networks in combined heat and power (CHP) plants. Solid fuels and especially coal are used for heating buildings and preparing food outside the urban areas as well. Burning causes significant air pollution and in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, the amount of fine particulate matter exceeds 6 to 10 times the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Mongolia aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 22.7% by 2030. The country has a lot of potential in utilising renewable energy.

The Asian Development Bank has identified Finland as a reference country in promoting the energy transition in Mongolia. In both countries the cold winter season must be taken into account when constructing energy infrastructure. Finland has expertise in the production and use of renewable energy as well. Finland’s target of being carbon neutral by 2035 also attracts much interest, and so does our expertise in sustainable forest management.

This year, Finland and Mongolia celebrate the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. The two countries established diplomatic relations on 8 July 1963. Mongolia is under the jurisdiction of the Embassy of Finland in Beijing. Besides this, Finland has a local Honorary Consul in Ulaanbaatar. The anniversary celebrations include a series of films and documentaries and a reception in Ulaanbaatar.

Finland has been a member of the Asian Development Bank(Link to another website.) since it was established in 1966. The aim of the Development Bank is to eradicate poverty in the Asian and Pacific region and support the member states in making social and economic reforms. The Asian Development Bank has 68 member states, 19 of them outside the region. Finnish companies may apply for funding for their projects by participating in the competitive biddings of the Development Bank.

Video: Finland and Mongolia, 59 years of diplomatic relations(Link to another website.)

Embassy of Finland, Beijing(Link to another website.)