Demonstration Project for Improved Electricity Services to the Low Income Communities in Rural Areas

MHI, in association with Mon-Energy Consult (MEC), has entered into a contract with the Ministry of Minerals, Resources, and Energy (MMRE) of the Government of Mongolia (GoM) to supply services relating to the design and construction supervision of a Single Wire Earth Return (SWER) distribution system.

The project is funded by the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR), and is administered by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). This endeavour represents a pilot project in which nine bag centres will be electrified over a total project duration of approximately 24 months, after which time it is expected that the GoM will secure additional funding to implement SWER technology in several of its remaining bag centres.

The project team consists of four MHI staff in the capacities of Team Leader, SWER Design Specialist, Grounding/Safety Engineer, and Financial Specialist. They are supported in-country by a team of seven additional specialists in the engineering, geotechnical, and accounting disciplines from MEC.

MHI staff has thus far been responsible for the detailed design of rural electrification systems, along with the development of related specifications and the preparation of associated tender documents. The team has also overseen the procurement process, including bid evaluations and contractor selection. MHI specialists are now responsible for supervising the construction of the rural distribution system project.