As part of a project implemented by the World Bank’s 2030 Water Resources Group, Amgalan Thermal Plant (state-owned company) and MCS Coca-Cola signed a memorandum of understanding to reuse MCS Coca-Cola’s treated factory wastewater as an additional water supply for the plant’s expansion.
Last year, after Amgalan Thermal Plant increased its installed capacity by 116 MW, its water demand rose and required an additional water source. Meanwhile, under its eco-friendly production policy, MCS Coca-Cola has been treating and reusing 99% of the water used throughout its production process since 2010.
This water is treated to a level where fish can live, and it has been used for non-drinking purposes such as road cleaning and irrigating green spaces. However, only 3–8% of the treated water is currently reused, while the remainder is discharged to the Ulaanbaatar Central Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Amgalan Thermal Plant fully supplies the heat demand of users in Ulaanbaatar’s eastern region. The World Bank’s 2030 Water Resources Group has found that if the plant begins reusing MCS Coca-Cola’s treated wastewater, it would not only help conserve natural water resources, but also significantly reduce the investment and operating costs required for water supply. Based on this, a feasibility study has been developed to build the connecting pipeline and related equipment to link the plant to this water source through a public–private partnership.
MCS Coca-Cola’s Treated Wastewater Will Cover 40% of Amgalan TPP’s Additional Water Demand
Ts. Uranchimeg, Head of the Natural Resources Policy Implementation Division at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change:
“If the work to connect a pipeline from MCS Coca-Cola’s factory to Amgalan Thermal Power Plant can be successfully implemented through a public–private partnership, Amgalan would become the first state-owned power plant to implement a green solution.”
M. Munkhuu, CEO of Amgalan Thermal Power Plant:
“Our plant is located less than 1 km from MCS Coca-Cola’s factory. Because we are so close geographically, implementing this environmentally friendly initiative that saves groundwater resources has many benefits. If the project is implemented through a public–private partnership, it would be possible to recover the costs over a five-year period.”
L. Myagmarjav, CEO of MCS Coca-Cola LLC:
“Our company follows the 3R principles: Reduce, Recycle, Reuse. Under our policy of reducing water use year by year, we built and commissioned our wastewater treatment facility with our own investment in 2010. Using our treated wastewater to support heat supply for the eastern region is, in our view, a major initiative to reduce groundwater usage and build a circular economy—treating used water and then reusing it.”
MCS Coca-Cola’s treated factory wastewater is expected to cover 40% of the additional water demand required for Amgalan Thermal Power Plant’s expansion. By reusing treated wastewater, this solution for supplying heat to the eastern zone of Ulaanbaatar has the potential to deliver multiple positive outcomes for the environment, public health, and sustainable development—supporting green growth through a zero-waste, circular economy approach.