Last Wednesday, a malfunction at Thermal Power Plant No.4 left residents of Ulaanbaatar without electricity, heating, and water for 3 consecutive days. Elevators stopped working, people were trapped inside, and demand for candles surged as households struggled to cope.

😫 A Known but Ignored Risk

This winter, the risk of Ulaanbaatar facing a severe energy collapse was not unexpected. In June, an accident occurred at Thermal Power Plant No.3. Within just 7 months, 2 major thermal power plants have suffered serious failures. Together, Power Plants No.3 and No.4 generate 77% of Ulaanbaatar’s electricity. If either plant malfunctions, the city risks losing power entirely. Today, both are operating under critical conditions.

👵 Aging Infrastructure, Delayed Solutions

Thermal Power Plant No. 4 has not undergone a major renovation for 43 years. A feasibility study proposes repairing Plant No.3 by installing a new boiler for $90 million, with a 1.6-year timeline, yet operations continue using equipment that has already exceeded its lifespan. The long-discussed Thermal Power Plant No.5, first proposed in 2011, has faced repeated delays and is now tentatively scheduled to begin construction in 2026.

😵‍💫 Piling Corruption Cases 

Officials have claimed for over a decade that there are insufficient funds to repair critical infrastructure, yet allegations of corruption in the energy sector continue to surface. Last week, former Energy Minister N.Tavinbekh was linked to a ₮7 billion corruption case over a consulting contract for thermal power plants in 10 provincial centers, allegedly awarded to a company connected to his adviser. Instead of calling for a proper investigation, current Energy Minister B.Choijilsuren publicly defended his predecessor.

• 😔 Soon after, 2 senior energy officials were also detained and are under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Agency.

🫣 Empty Promises, Real Consequences 

The energy sector has reached a breaking point, yet there is little evidence of genuine political will to reform or modernize it. Power plants continue to operate on the edge of failure while senior officials face corruption investigations. For residents, the consequences are immediate and unforgiving. When electricity fails, heating and water vanish as well, forcing families to endure freezing winter nights by candlelight.