Source: https://news.mn/en/788315

Former Mongolian Energy Minister M.Sonompil was sentenced to four years in prison over the abuse of power on Wednesday, 24 July 2019.

M.Sonompil worked as Energy Minister between 2012 and 2016. Those were decisive years when energy development in Mongolia fell victim of corruption and political favors. Instead of pursuing less ambitious and expensive projects in improving overall energy system, rehabilitating and upgrading existing facilities and developing true renewables, the country’s elite was favoring white elephants such as 10GW Shivee-Ovoo Thermal power plant, Ulaan Baatar CHPP #5, Baganuur Thermal Power …

On July 24 a web-journal towardfreedom.org published an article by Lital Khaikin “Between Sacred Waters and Natural Capital: Resistance to Hydroelectric Dams in Mongolia” 

Egiin Gol – still a free-flowing river

In recent years, Mongolia has sought
to expand its construction of hydroelectric dams in the northern provinces,
where large watersheds connect Mongolia to the Buryat’ Republic in Siberia.
Since the introduction of Mongolia’s Action Plan for Implementation of the
Green Development Policy for the period of 2016–2030, the country has
identified the river-systems in the northern provinces of …

Difficult dilemmas are discussed at the 43rd World Heritage Committee session in Baku. The RwB had a chance to introduce the “Heritage Dammed” Report during debate on two World Heritage sites threatened by dams.

NGO representative prepares for intervention

From July 1 afternoon African countries (which usually vote here in one united block) are challenging key enforcement mechanisms of the World Heritage Convention contrasting it with “rights to Sustainable development”. The move is backed now by Brazil, Bahrain and Azerbaijan.  Countries of Africa want more “development benefits from heritage …

Lake Baikal – the Largest Hydropower Reservoir on Earth

The RwB and World Heritage Watch presents the final complete version of the “Heritage Dammed” Report, dedicated to protection of natural freshwater ecosystems. This colorful report contains contributions from 30 civil society organizations (CSOs), experts and dam-affected communities around the world.

The Report documents how water infrastructure plays key role in degrading aquatic ecosystems at more than 50 World Heritage properties, of which 42 sites are threatened by hydropower.  Fourteen in-depth case studies illustrate and analyze the global threat to the rivers, …

Eugene Simonov presents findings and recommendations of the “Heritage Dammed” Report.
After the RwB  coordinator delivered a presentation at the World Hydropower Congress (photo above), a representative of the Three Gorges Corporation made a statement, on which the RwB issued a press-release published by the HydroWorld:
The Rivers without Boundaries (RwB) coalition reports that the China Three Gorges Corporation has announced its commitment to protect World Heritage Sites and its reasons behind not bidding on the Stiegler’s Gorge hydropower plant in Selous Game Reserve, a World Heritage Site in Tanzania.
After this statement, …

It is always soothing to republish articles which reflect wider acceptance of your own views.  This is the case with a piece by  Wang Jiamei of the Global Times published on April 24 2019

Photo: chilren crossing a bridge over Budhi-Gandaki River in Arughat settlement to be submerged by Budhi Gandaki HPP. RwB
With the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the importance of the water conservancy sector in infrastructure construction has been well recognized in the global arena. However, despite ample development opportunities, there are still enormous risks and …