Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's capital, endures harsh winters worsened by chronic power shortages and energy rationing, highlighting the city's urgent need for modernized energy infrastructure.
The aging Thermal Power Plant No. 3 (TPP-3), a coal-fired facility responsible for 32% of Ulaanbaatar's heat and 16% of the central region's electricity, struggles with frequent failures, jeopardizing the city's energy security during critical months.
Mongolia is considering to partner with Russia to modernize this plant—at a staggering cost of €1.3 billion—has sparked debates over cost-effectiveness, geopolitical dependencies, and long-term energy strategies.