Mir and Atom: Mongolia considers Russia's proposal for a small nuclear power plant
Mongolia is considering Rosatom's proposal to build a low-power plant, Russian Ambassador to Ulaanbaatar Alexei Yevsikov told Izvestia. A potential nuclear power plant will ensure the energy stability of the country, which is especially important, experts emphasize. The Mongolian energy system is experiencing tremendous stress even with minimal loads. Other projects may become attractive for this Asian country, in particular, for the extraction of uranium and rare earths. In which areas Moscow and Ulaanbaatar are strengthening cooperation, see the Izvestia article.
Russian and Mongolian nuclear projects
Mongolia is not only considering Rosatom's proposal to build a low-power nuclear power plant, but is also selecting a site for the facility, Russian Ambassador to Ulaanbaatar Alexei Yevsikov told Izvestia.
— Since August 2024, the Mongolian side has been considering the proposal of Rosatom State Corporation on the construction of a low-power nuclear power plant using the latest technology that has no analogues in the world. It is planned to locate this facility in a region where a large number of new electricity consumers are expected to appear," the diplomat said.
In September 2024, Rosatom emphasized that the technical appearance of the project for the construction of Mongolia's first small nuclear power plant had been practically approved. It was reported that the agreement could be signed as early as 2025. However, there are no updates on this issue yet. Obviously, the deadlines are shifting.
The future nuclear power plant is very important for ensuring Mongolia's energy stability, Darya Saprynskaya, a researcher at the Laboratory of Modern Central Asia and the Caucasus Studies at the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, explained to Izvestia.
— At the moment, gasification and coal play a huge role in ensuring Mongolia's stability and security. The new nuclear power plant will potentially provide a sustainable source of electricity to replace coal-fired thermal power plants, which is especially important for the development of large cities and industrial projects. For example, a small nuclear power plant project is being considered to supply electricity to the young city of Novy Kharkhorum, the expert emphasizes.
Mongolia's energy system is experiencing serious problems today. There is still a situation where the voltage values at the control points during the night hours reach the maximum permissible values even with minimal load. Ulaanbaatar also intends to reduce dependence on imports — 20% of electricity is still supplied from Russia and China.
There is also a financial nuance here. The question is how much the country's budget can afford to build a nuclear power plant, because this project is expensive, Saprynskaya draws attention.
Nevertheless, Mongolia's interest is obvious. Earlier, the vice-speaker of the Great State Khural of the country, Behchuluuni Purevdorj, stressed that if we start working on the construction of nuclear power plants now, then in 10-15 years the country will solve the problem with nuclear energy.
Other projects may become attractive for Ulaanbaatar, including the extraction of uranium and rare earth elements based on the long-term experience of the Russian Federation, the Russian ambassador added.
"In general, cooperation in the energy sector is one of the strategic directions for Russia and Mongolia, as this area is now playing an increasingly important role in ensuring progressive economic development," they stressed.
Moreover, the issue of mutually beneficial cooperation in the nuclear industry is not new. On November 14, 2000, Moscow and Ulaanbaatar signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of atomic energy. This comprehensive document covered the entire range of relevant and potential areas of cooperation.
Prospects for cooperation between the two countries
Bilateral relations between Moscow and Ulaanbaatar are experiencing a new stage of development. The first forum of the regions of Russia and Mongolia was held in early December. A cooperation program for 2026-2030 was signed at the meeting, which includes about 70 areas.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk said at the forum that Ulaanbaatar remains an important trading partner of Moscow in Asia, which confirms the growth of trade turnover. According to him, it increased by 17.8% in 2024, and by another 5% in the first nine months of 2025. In general, the countries are approaching the $2 billion mark in mutual trade, although in 2020 it was only $1.4 billion. Now the parties have the opportunity to further increase the current figures. "First of all, we see potential in increasing the supply of your traditional goods from Mongolia — wool, cashmere, leather, meat," Overchuk said.
Russia is one of Mongolia's largest trading partners. The parties cooperate in a number of areas.
—Moscow and Ulaanbaatar are strengthening cooperation in a number of areas, including industry, agriculture, and tourism," Saprynskaya says.
Mongolia mainly imports petroleum products, automobiles and other transport equipment, nuclear reactors, aviation and electrical equipment, metal products, food and medicines from Russia.
At the same time, the republic cannot be called a local participant in international trade. The country actively supplies its products to more than 80 countries around the world. The main exports are meat, wool and textiles, as well as mineral reserves: gold, silver, iron ore, coal, copper, tin, nickel, zinc.
Russia and Mongolia are also connected by a historical aspect: the USSR provided significant assistance in the industrialization and development of the country's infrastructure, which laid the foundation for a modern partnership. Today, this is evident in the implementation of major projects: for example, in October 2024, the Kyakhta customs and logistics terminal was opened on the Russian-Mongolian border, which simplified trade flows and increased throughput.
Kyakhta Customs and Logistics Terminal
On September 2, 2025, a legally binding memorandum was signed on the construction of the Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline and the Soyuz Vostok transit gas pipeline. The project will allow for the supply of 50 billion cubic meters of gas per year from Russia to China via Mongolia. The head of the Mongolian government, Gombozhavyn Zandanshatar, called it a grandiose project of the millennium.
The EAEU cooperation also gives an impetus to trade cooperation. On December 16, 2025, the Russian State Duma ratified the interim trade agreement between the organization and its member states and Mongolia. The document was signed back in May. The agreement provides for the liberalization of trade in 367 types of goods.
A curious track for cooperation between Russia and Mongolia is water, says Daria Saprynskaya. Earlier, the republic's authorities offered the Russian side cooperation in future construction work on the Egiyn-Gol hydroelectric power station project on the Selenga River flowing into Lake Baikal. The parties also pay attention to the mutual conservation of large bodies of water.
Political dialogue is also on the rise. On September 2, 2025, in Beijing, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Mongolian President Uhnaagiin Khurelsukh. A year earlier, in September 2024, the Russian leader paid an official visit to the country. After Vladimir Putin's invitation, the President of Mongolia also came to Moscow to participate in the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Victory.
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