Gazprom, a Russia’s state energy company, expressed its willingness to collaborate on enhancing Mongolia’s gas supply infrastructure, during recent discussions between Russian and Mongolian officials.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Viktoria Abramchenko shared that Gazprom is eager to assist Mongolia in developing a gasification plant. This partnership could potentially reduce Mongolia’s coal dependency and improve air quality. However, it’s still too early to determine the exact volume of Russian gas that Mongolia will receive, as this will depend on the finalized gas supply plan.

During the discussions, both sides also explored the idea of constructing low-power nuclear power plants in Mongolia, a prospect of interest for the country, given its access to uranium resources. This project could diversify Mongolia’s energy sources and potentially bolster its energy independence.

Additionally, there are plans to approve the design documentation for the Soyuz Vostok gas pipeline, which will extend the Russian Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline through Mongolia to China. Once approved, construction is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2024. This pipeline extension is projected to supply up to 50 billion cubic meters of gas annually to China, with the Mongolian section spanning approximately 960 kilometers.