The Old Vehicle Fleet Intensifies Smog in Kyrgyzstan. What Have Officials Come Up With?

Ирина Орлонская Society
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In Kyrgyzstan, an interdepartmental commission has been established to improve air quality. This was announced at a briefing by Nursultan Tashybek uulu, head of the atmospheric air protection department of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision.

According to him, work is proceeding according to the established plan, and the powers of the commission have been significantly expanded.

“Previously, our efforts were focused on Bishkek and the Chui region. This year, we aim to extend our experience to other major cities, including Osh and Manas. Air pollution is a problem that exists not only in winter but throughout the year. However, in winter, due to temperature inversion, smog becomes more noticeable,” Tashybek uulu noted.

He also emphasized that the main cause of air pollution is the residential sector, which uses solid fuel during the heating season.

“With the increase in residential areas after the administrative-territorial reform, Bishkek has grown larger, and now the capital has over 100 residential areas. Therefore, the interdepartmental commission is focusing on gasification, which is an international practice,” he added.

In Kyrgyzstan, there are over 1.8 million registered vehicles, and more than 80 percent of them have been in operation for over 15 years.
Tashybek uulu pointed out that old cars often lose their catalysts, which are either scrapped or sold. “We are also working in this direction by conducting raids to identify scrap collection points. Citizens must understand that the catalyst is a mandatory element that must be present in the system. Currently, there is no technical inspection for individuals, so the Ministry of Economy has been instructed by the government to develop a mechanism for checking catalysts during the registration and re-registration of vehicles. To improve the environmental situation in cities, such measures need to be taken, especially considering that some families have two cars,” he explained.

According to the official, after the relevant document is developed, there will be a public discussion and coordination with government agencies. It is expected that a final decision will be made in 2026.
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