The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Mongolia signed a $20 million loan agreement to expand the scope of ongoing wastewater treatment projects to an additional five provincial centers of Mongolia.
Minister of Finance Mr. Khurelbaatar Chimed and ADB Country Director for Mongolia Ms. Yolanda Fernandez Lommen signed the agreement at a ceremony in Ulaanbaatar. Minister of Construction and Urban Development Mr. Badelkhan Havdislam and the governors of the project provinces also attended the event.
“This project will bring many benefits to city residents by facilitating the ongoing growth and development of the target cities under improved environmental standards. It supports ADB’s Strategy 2030 by making cities more livable,” said Ms. Fernandez Lommen. "The new waste water treatment plants are also closely aligned with ADB’s Country Partnership Strategy for Mongolia to improve people’s access to services and strengthen environmental sustainability by ensuring that domestic and commercial waste water is properly discharged.”
In 2010, ADB approved a $15 million grant to enhance water supply and sanitation services, road networks, and district heating services in two provincial centers of Mongolia. An additional $19.43 million loan has supported the construction of wastewater treatment plants in four more provinces since 2016.
The new project will replicate these achievements in five more provincial centers—Baruun-Urt, Bulgan, Chinggis, Mandalgovi, and Murun—which are home to 115,000 people. The planned new wastewater treatment facilities with an individual operating capacity of 3,000 cubic meters will replace outdated and inefficient treatment systems which are not suitable for the extreme climate in Mongolia. ADB will also invest in vacuum evacuation trucks to improve sanitation in ger areas and prevent ground and surface water pollution. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2021.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members—48 from the region. In 2017, ADB operations totaled $32.2 billion, including $11.9 billion in cofinancing.
