Mongolia's Water Management Role in Asia Geopolitics

14.06.2014
Author:Dursun Yıldız
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Dursun YILDIZ Hydropolitics Expert 14 June 2014 Mongolia Water Authority and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report releasde in 2011 has warned that " Climate change and rapid urbanization are threatening fragile water resources in Mongolia". The report also says that" half of the inhabitants have no access to clean water in Mongolia" Mongolia has an annual precipitation of 361 km³, about 90 percent of which is lost to evapotranspiration. Of the remaining 10 percent, 37 percent infiltrates into the soil while 63 percent turns into surface runoff. Almost 95 percent of the surface runoff component flows out of the country . Consequently, only 6 percent of Mongolia’s annual precipitation is transformed into available water resources in surface water bodies The total surface water resource of Mongolia is estimated as 599 km³ /year and is composed of water stored in lakes (500 km³/year), glaciers (63 km ³/year) and rivers (36 km³/year) The amount of renewable groundwater resources has been estimated at 10.8 km ³/year. Groundwater resources continue to be a major source of water, especially during winter when many surface water resources are frozen. The main engine of growth The main engine of growth is mining, such as the $6.6 billion giant Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold mine in the Gobi Desert, which ranks among the five largest copper mines in the world. GDP growth peaked at 20.2% year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2011. Last year it was down to 12.3%—but that still makes Mongolia one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. Construction has been booming, and property prices in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, have skyrocketed as foreign mining companies, financiers and consultants have poured in, provoking concerns about a bubble and the solidity of some local banks, with Moody’s recently putting the banking sector on negative outlook. Mongolia is unlike most developing countries, both in its geography and its politics. A vast, landlocked country inhabited by less than three million people—most of whom were nomadic herders a generation ago—it has the world’s second-lowest population density after Greenland. It is home to a vibrant democracy.

Urban Water Vulnerability to Climate Change in Mongolia According to the ‘Urban Water Vulnerabilityto Climate Change in Mongolia’ report, extreme temperatures and natural disasters such as droughts, flooding and heavy snowfalls are becoming more frequent and annual average temperatures have increased by 2.1° celius since the 1940s. “Mongolia’s temperature has already risen by more than 2°C in the last seventy years. The study’s climate scenarios suggest that the country will have to get used to having much less water in the future,” says Dr. Z. Batbayr, Deputy Director of Mongolia Water Authority. “The impact of this will be seen across the board, through the degradation of natural environment, ecosystems, and harm to the economy.”

The effects of climate change The effects of climate change have also been compounded by rapid urbanization, reducing the availability of water for domestic and industrial use. Mongolia’s total water consumption is approximately 540 million m ³/year and over 80% is consumed by the industrial and agricultural sectors and 20% by domestic use. About 80% of drinking water comes from aquifers. Globally, Mongolia is one of sixty countries with limited water resources. There is over 11 000 m ³ of water per year for each of the country’s 2.7 million people. “If the status quo for water management in Mongolia continues, the country will not be able to provide sustainable water resources for its population under future climate change,” says Dr. Young-Woo Park, UNEP Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific. “Steps need to be taken now so that Mongolia adapts to its changing environment, and I am glad that the Government has plans to act based on the findings of the report.”

Water supplies, sanitation and other public services The situation is particularly serious in urban areas like the capital of Ulaanbaatar, where nearly 40 percent of the country’s population resides and where increasing demand and pollution is exerting added pressure on water supplies, sanitation and other public services,

Ulaanbaatar : A Water Shortfall City The most pressing water-related headache facing Mongolia relates to Ulan Bator itself. With around 1.3 million people, the capital city is home to over two-fifths of the total population. The city's infrastructure is already under huge strain, with access to clean water and sanitation facilities among the chief problems. Rural-urban migration is set to exacerbate these further in the coming years. "In a high growth scenario, Ulan Bator could potentially run out of water between 2015 and 2021, which is not that far off", warned water expert Alex Mung. In Ulaanbaatar 50% of the one million population live in informal settlements (Ger areas) with a low-level of public services. The daily water consumption is only about 5-10 litres per capita per day, and very few are connected to the city’s water distribution network. Currently, water is being withdrawn faster than the rate of discharge in the city, where groundwater tables have shown a marked decline in the past 50 years. A large part of the water resources for the city comes from the Tuul River, where continuing ecosystem degradation will prove extremely costly in terms of water and other services lost, the report says. Overall, improved conservation of the Upper Tuul ecosystem is estimated to be worth some US$979 million through the provision of water, tourism, herding, and forest products. 70% of the residents either acquire their own well or get water from public kiosks, 31 % of the total population is connected to the water supply by a network of pipelines; 24.7% obtains their water from water trucks; 35.6% from water distribution kiosks; and about 9.0% use spring water

Water Pollution In recent years the exploration for natural resources has also increased rapidly and many rivers, or parts of the rivers, are polluted by industrial and mining activities. Мany river basins are under intensive use due to mining for gold, silver, coal, precious stones, gravel, and other natural resources.

Gold mining affects the quality of 28 rivers in 8 provinces of Mongolia. In particular, the upper stream of the Orkhon River, downstream reaches of the Tuul river, and the Eroo river in the Selenge river basin. Also the Orkhon, Tuul, Kharaa and Khangal river basins are experiencing increased pollution by urbanization and industrial activities within the basin In the southern part of Mongolia (Gobi Desert) the water availability is 10 times less than the world average and several ten times less than northern part of the country

Transboundary Rivers through Mongolia into Russia and China. There are about 210 rivers flowing through Mongolia into Russia and China. Mongolia aims for international cooperation concerning the equitable utilization of transboundary waters with its neighbours. The first international agreement on transboundary water resources was between the governments of Mongolia and the USSR in 1974 on the use of water and protection of the Selenge River Basin, which plays an important role for the economic and industrial development of both countries. The agreement made between the governments of Mongolia and the Russian Federation in 1995 on the protection of transboundary water resources focuses on over 100 small rivers and streams located in the western part of the country. In general, the drainage basins of transboundary rivers between Mongolia and the Russian Federation cover about 31.4 percent of the Mongolia’s territory. In 1994, an agreement was signed between China and Mongolia on the protection of transboundary water resources concerning Lake Buir, the Kherlen, Bulgan, Khalkh rivers, and eighty-seven small lakes and rivers located near the border. Transboundary water resources shared with China include surface water bodies in Dornod, Khovd, and Bayan-Ulgii provinces and groundwater resources in Gobi-Altai, Umnugobi, Bayankhongor, Sukhbaatar and Dornogobi provinces Water and Development Of Country The Mongolian economy has entered a new phase of growth because of its booming mining sector, and whilst this has enabled strong socio-economic change it has also placed enormous pressure on Mongolia's already scare fresh water sources. The importance that Mongolia places on effective water management is intrinsically linked to achieving its growth ambition, which is aimed at improving the livelihoods of its people. This commitment is echoed by the most senior leaders within Mongolia who view integrated water management as an essential element to its success. This focus was endorsed by President Elbegdorj of Mongolia who publically stated that "managing our future water needs is key to sustaining Mongolia's economic growth". The current water situation in Mongolia is in urgent need of repair and with serious consequences facing its people; the Mongolian government has decided to step in with a commitment to address its water resource vulnerability. Deteriorating water quality, increasing water demands and the effects of poor livestock grazing practices has prompted the Mongolian government to develop a water response strategy aimed at developing an integrated water resource management (IWRM) framework for the country as a whole. With two-thirds of Mongolia being arid and increasing rates of urbanization taking place, an integrated water approach was profoundly needed to ensure the security and quality of the country's water supply was maintained well into the future. To support this strategy, the Mongolian government has sought the assistance of international experts to help fulfil its vision of an ecologically healthy water system that will not only support its population but also its growing mining and livestock sectors. As Mongolia continues to transition its society from one heavily reliant on agrarian subsistence to a greater focus on mining, mineral resource exports as well as higher rates of urbanization, its demand on fresh water sources will naturally increase. As such the river basin projects now underway are bound to make a positive difference for Mongolia and its population. Conclusion After the fall of the Soviet Union, Mongolia has been going through a profound economic and political transition period. Poverty is on the rise, only a limited portion of the population has access to safe water, sanitation facilities are poor, the quality of water resources are decaying, water-related diseases are common, and health services are out of reach for the poor. These problems are further accentuated by water scarcity, a very cold climate and recent disasters. The Government of Mongolia is committed to implementing reforms in water resources management and environmental protection, but due to lack of financial resources and the limited number of trained personnel, policies cannot be implemented, and laws and regulations cannot be enforced. Improving the implementation of legal frameworks and policy coordination in the water sector are dire necessities. Sectoral interests have prevented the adequate protection of water resources and the environment. The decentralization of waterpricing has promoted economic growth by providing low-cost water to business and industry but has disregarded the needs of the poor. A high level Turkish Delegation with Water Resources Minister Prof. Dr. Veysel Eroğlu visited to Mongolia for cooperation on water resources development and forestry in 2009 . Ministry of Environment of Mongolia Luimed Ganskhuk visited back to Turkey in 2010 to progress in Orhun Gobi bulk water transfer project of Mongolia . A protocol signed for the project in this meeting. Turkey will give technichal support to this 600 million $ project that is very important for the development of Mongolia . Mongolia's geostrategical importance is geting higher as the world's geopolitcs axis is moving from west to Asia-Pasific Region .Therefore Mongolia foreign policy will play very important role for its own development and stability as well as Asian peace and stability. This policy has to consider inner water development in soon for the benefit of economical growth. This also means that transboundary hydropolitics will be more important for Mongolia then before. Water quality and quantity relaesed from Mongolia to Russia and China can be used as a conflict creator when the Mongolia's Foreign Policy balance move to one side .Because of that Mongolia has to develope and use it's water taking into account hydropolitcs of the rivers will play most important role for the future of the region.