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AsiaElec POLICY AsiaElec

Mongolia submits updated NDCs to UN

Framework Convention on Climate Change

MONGOLIA MONGOLIA has submitted its updated nation- The NDC notes Mongolia’s plan to switch
ally determined contributions (NDCs) to the from truck to rail transport in its coal export.
United Nations Framework Convention on Cli- Observers noted the development as part of
mate Change (UNFCCC). Mongolia’s attempt to ramp up its coal exports
The country has set a new target that would by connecting with China’s railway network and
see it reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions deliver coal to Chinese steel mills.
by 22.7% by 2030, compared to the business-as- Adaptation targets included in Mongolia’s
usual (BAU) scenario. NDC include:
Mongolia’s new mitigation target land-use implementing sustainable forest manage-
change and forestry (LULUCF) is an improve- ment (SFM) and sustainable use of water and
ment on the 14% goal in its earlier intended pastureland;
NDC. It is based on new baseline emissions enhancing the disaster prevention system it
that Mongolia re-calculated. They are estimated terms of working against drought;
to reach 74.3 MtСО2eq, compared to the 2015 enabling adaptation opportunities for vulner-
intended NDC baseline of 51.3 MtСО2eq. If able biodiversity; and
conditional mitigation measures such as carbon building resilience to natural disasters by
capture and storage (CCS) and waste-to-en- reducing the risks and adapting to impacts of cli-
ergy technologies are implemented, Mongolia mate and weather-related hazards and disasters.
expects to achieve an even higher target amount- The NDC builds on existing national develop-
ing to a 27.2% reduction in total national GHG ment policies such as Vision-2050. NDC targets
emissions. Mongolia’s share of global GHG emis- are integrated into national strategy and policy
sions is 0.14%. documents, as well as relevant legal instruments
The updated NDC includes additional sectors that define stakeholders’ responsibilities and the
that were not previously considered, such as agri- monitoring structure for implementation of the
culture, waste and several industrial sectors. In NDC. Financial needs for NDC implementation
the energy sector, Mongolia intends to increase are estimated at around $11.5bn, of which $6.3bn
the use of renewable energy sources and improve will be needed for mitigation action, and $5.2bn
the efficiency of energy production. for adaptation.™

GENERATION

Indonesia pursues foreign investment

INDONESIA THE Indonesian government is pursuing for- hydrocarbon reserves – which amount to 3.77bn
eign investment in the country’s upstream by barrels of oil and 77 trillion cubic feet (2.18 tril-
touting a new exploration bid round slated for lion cubic metres) of gas – were “not significant
2021. compared to world reserves”, but added that the
The Southeast Asian producer intends to auc- government’s efforts to introduce incentives
tion off 68 unexplored offshore blocks in 2021, should encourage investors.
the Tradearabia media outlet quoted Indone- Jakarta is looking to bolster its oil and gas
sian Energy Minister Arifin Tasrif as saying at production, which missed the government’s
the ADIPEC 2020 Virtual Strategic Conference. third-quarter by 0.4% at 1.69mn barrels of oil
“Indonesia is open for business from equivalent per day (boepd). However, the coun-
upstream exploration to processing and training try moved in early September to postpone auc-
in downstream,” he said. tions for 12 exploration blocks until 2021, owing
Tasrif said the auction was part of a suite of to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
initiatives aimed at improving investor confi- “As the COVID-19 outbreak has hit the coun-
dence in the country’s oil and gas industry. He try, the response of the KKKS is predicted not
said these included the introduction of produc- to be too enthusiastic, if the auctions are carried
tion-sharing contract (PSC) flexibility earlier out this year,” Tasrif told lawmakers at the time.
this year, fiscal and non-fiscal benefits and the In the downstream, Tasrif told the virtual
simplification of the licensing processes. conference this week that Indonesia was accel-
The official acknowledged that Indonesia’s erating work on masterplans for six refineries.

P6 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 46 18•November•2020