Russian Academy of Sciences to Review EIA Report for Mongolia's Eg River Hydropower Station on November 18

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On November 4, Yelena Panova, Chair of the State Duma Committee on Ecology, announced that the Russian Academy of Sciences plans to receive on November 18 the joint research report by Russian and Mongolian scientific teams on the environmental impact of Mongolia's Eg River Hydropower Station, and to further review the project's potential impact on the ecosystems of the Selenga River and Lake Baikal. The project has a planned installed capacity of approximately 315 MW and is currently still in the stage of transboundary environmental impact assessment and construction scheme justification.

The joint Russian-Mongolian scientific team has conducted research on the hydrological changes the Eg River Hydropower Station may cause, focusing on changes in the Selenga River runoff, seasonal redistribution of water volumes, and the impact of hydropower station operation on the Lake Baikal ecosystem. The research also assessed reservoir dispatch schemes under different hydrological conditions, as well as technical measures to reduce changes in the river's natural runoff.

The Mongolian government recently proposed, based on the preliminary results of the joint research, that the Eg River Hydropower Station is feasible for construction provided that environmental protection requirements are met. Mongolia's environmental authorities previously stated on October 16 that the Russian and Mongolian scientific teams had reached a common position on the research results and signed relevant documents, and planned to submit the research report to the Russian Academy of Sciences. The Russian side still needs to confirm the specific conclusions through formal scientific review.

The Russian Academy of Sciences previously organized relevant research institutions of its Siberian Branch to participate in hydrological modeling and ecological surveys. Researchers established basin hydrology, hydraulics, and hydropower station operation models, and analyzed engineering operation schemes under different flow conditions. The research noted that some of the operation scenarios proposed by Mongolia may, in dry years and winter months, come close to the ecological flow requirements at the Russian-Mongolian border, and that operation parameters need further optimization.

Under the current procedure, after the joint report is submitted to the Russian Academy of Sciences, the relevant scientific conclusions will be forwarded to the Russian and Mongolian governments to provide a basis for subsequent consultations between the two countries. Mongolia's separately organized environmental and social impact assessment work is scheduled to continue until the end of December 2026, and will be conducted in accordance with UNESCO World Heritage impact assessment methodology and International Finance Corporation environmental and social standards.