Mongolia’s New Power Plants May Suck Dry Lake Baikal in Siberia
According to media reports, Mongolia’s plans to build three large power plants on the river that feeds Russia’s Lake Baikal may result in a drop in water levels at the unique lake in southeastern Siberia. Three Mongolian hydropower plants are due to be constructed on the Selenga River and its tributaries, which supply Lake Baikal with 80 percent of its water. According to the Izvestia newspaper, Russian government officials are concerned about the potentially irreversible adverse effects the plants could have on the ecology of Lake Baikal. Mongolia decided to build the power plants as it was unable to agree on energy prices that it found satisfactory with Russia, its main supplier. According to the paper, the Russian government is now actively searching for alternative ways to meet Mongolia’s energy needs. Source URL |
