S.Enkhbat: Mongolia advanced one more step towards having own nuclear power plant.
Mr. S.Enkhbat, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, a instructive agency of the Government of Mongolia, has his points on the Mongolian possibility of having nuclear power plant based on our uranium reserve.
Q: The Atomic Energy Commission seems to me quite closed place?
A: It might be because of it has certain confidentiality. Also we do not disseminate or disclose to public about our intention. People start to understand and recognize that Mongolia has such an agency, since the recent articles and news about uranium deposits and reserves. Actually, our organization was established in 1962 and it has been dealing with the issue for 45 years. Previously it was agency next to the Cbinet Ministers, but now the law stated that the head of Atomic Energy Commission is the Prime Minister of Mongolia. Just recently, Atomic Energy Commission became the instructive agency by the resolution No 263 of the Government.
Q: A draft law was presented to the Governent in relationship with handling atomic energy substances and its policy. Do you some more details?
A: A draft “law on the State policy on radio active substance and atomic energy” was presented. After the discussion by the Cabinet, it will be presented to the National Security Council of Mongolia. After that it will be presented to the International Atomic Energy Agency for its comments. Prime Minister visited to this Agnecy during his visit in Austria. The Agency will send back its comments and evaluation by May 2009.
Issues of secure handling of radio active substances especially uranium, torium, nuclear technology, rare earth elements and strengthening the sector were stated in the State Policy directions. Also investors in uranium exploitation must be internationally recognized governmental or non-governmental organizations. There are many minor to major details were stated in the policy.
Now we are talking about building nuclear power plant using our uranium reserve. It is a crucial step for Mongolia. We are considering about building nuclear power plant in 2021.
Q: Is it risky and dangerous than Power Plant? World suffered many accidents from nuclear power plant and their damage is still not recovered.
A: Nuclear power plant is much better solution when the world is being warm and air is being polluted. Since Chernobyl accident, nuclear power plant’s safety operation is increased enormously and it is not suitable to compare nuclear power plant with ordinary power plant. For example power plant will use coal and it will emit huge amount of ash and smoke into the air. Many coal mines of Mongolia have uranium. In other words, their ash contains radio active elements. Radio active substance will be used with two purposes: peace and weaponry. But not every country can use uranium and build nuclear power plant. Nuclear power plant’s operation is under the control of the international monitoring and its uranium exploitation is carried out according to the international regulation. There are three levels of criteria from the International Atomic Energy Agency in building nuclear power plant. Mongolia is working on to complete first level, legislation.
Q: So Mongolia is forming its legal environment. How much will it be to build nuclear power plant? Did foreign investors express their interest of participation?
A: The detailed study will be made after the law ids passed. The location will be selected based on the close research covering land geology, solar, water and wind factors. Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, South Korea and Japan expressed their interest. We are planning to build the station using our internal capacity. Nuclear power plant is vey important. Mongolia will make huge jump forward if it succeeds in buildingnuclear power plant. Such a huge supply of energy enables heavy industry.
Mongolia is in the 15th place with its uranium reserve. But after nationwide exploration, it might jump into the 5th place in the world with its uranium reserve.
Q: What is exploitation level of Mardaui deposit?
A: Uranium was mined from Mardai. It is ready to mine uranium, but its legal environment is needed to be well developed. It must be mined after the legal environment is formed, otherwise, Mongolia will repeat the sorrowful history of some countries of Africa.
Mardai has three separate deposits. Therefore, about 60 thousand tons of uranium is in Mardai. But at the moment we need to study and make research of the deposits instead of mining.
Q: If we have nuclear power plant, do we have human resource? Is the budget fudning enough to train human resource?
A: National University of Mongolia has been training professionals for over 20 years. But quality of professionals is poor. Prime Minister is paying attention on training in Japan, Malaysia, Russia and South Korea.
Q: When the Prime Minister visited to the Russian Federation, it proposed the possible cooperation in uranium sector.
A: Russian Federation, Japan, France and South Korea expressed their interest in the uranium sector. But it depends on the cooperation type, such as whether they are strategic partner or investors.
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