On January 20, Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision, Meder Mashiev, addressed parliament to discuss the sources of air pollution in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Citing studies conducted by international organizations, Mashiev broke down the contributors to Bishkek’s smog, as reported by 24.kg.
According to the minister, the primary sources of air pollution in Bishkek are:
- Burning of coal: 40%
- Exhaust gases from motor vehicles: 30%
- Smoke from the Bishkek Thermal Electric Power Plant: 15%
- Windborne dust: 13.5%
Mashiev highlighted that efforts by the government in 2024 have led to improvements in air quality, based on data from the Hydrometeorological Service. However, he noted that Bishkek experienced its worst smog levels during 2021-2022.
One of the key issues contributing to air pollution is the absence of catalytic converters in 85% of vehicles operating in Kyrgyzstan. Catalytic converters are critical for reducing the toxicity of vehicle emissions by converting harmful compounds into less hazardous ones.
With over 600,000 registered vehicles in Bishkek — nearly double the city’s road capacity of 350,000 — the Ministry estimates that motor transport accounts for 27% of the city’s total air pollution.
During the parliamentary session, parliamentary deputy Balbak Tulobayev proposed several measures to address the smog problem:
- Replace domestic coal: Prohibit the use of low-calorie, high-ash Kara-Keche coal in Bishkek and switch to high-calorie Kazakh coal, potentially reducing smog by 30-40%.
- Accelerate gasification: Attract additional companies, such as those from Azerbaijan or Iran, to expand gasification in Bishkek. Currently, Russia’s Gazprom is the only provider of natural gas in the city. The MP estimates this could reduce smog by another 30%.
- Improve public transportation: Construct a subway or monorail system in Bishkek to reduce reliance on private vehicles.
- Ban polluting vehicles: Restrict vehicles without catalytic converters from entering the city.
Air pollution remains a persistent issue in Bishkek, a city with over one million residents. The problem worsens in the winter, as household coal burning for heating intensifies. Bishkek frequently ranks among the world’s top 10 most polluted cities on IQAir’s global air quality index.
To improve air quality, the government has outlined a comprehensive plan for 2024-2025, which includes the following measures:
- Transition to cleaner coal: Provide households with high-calorie coal that emits fewer pollutants.
- Modernize the thermal power plant: Replace outdated filters at the Bishkek coal-fired power plant and work toward converting it to natural gas.
- City planning for air circulation: Develop an architectural plan to enhance air movement in Bishkek.
- Expand gasification: Continue gasification of residential neighborhoods to reduce reliance on coal.
- Improve urban infrastructure: Construct transport interchanges and multi-level parking lots to ease traffic congestion.
- Promote public transport: Increase the attractiveness of public transportation and develop infrastructure for electric vehicles, including charging stations.
- Green belt initiative: Create a green belt in and around Bishkek to improve air quality and provide natural barriers to pollution.
Air pollution in Bishkek is a complex and longstanding issue driven by coal burning, vehicle emissions, and outdated infrastructure. While the government has made some progress in improving air quality, significant challenges remain. The proposed solutions, including expanding gasification, modernizing infrastructure, and introducing cleaner fuel options, could provide a pathway toward a cleaner and healthier future for the capital.
