BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, December 12. Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Finance and the World Bank (WB) have inked an agreement aimed at improving air quality in Bishkek, Trend reports.
As per the country's Cabinet of Ministers, before the signing, a project presentation took place, during which the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Akylbek Japarov, highlighted the rising importance of air quality in Bishkek and the Chuy region in recent years.
"The effective resolution of this issue will facilitate the efficient planning and implementation of industrialization in our other cities," said the head of the cabinet.
Addressing the reduction of solid fuel use, he said that nine residential areas have been supplied with gas in collaboration with the Gazprom Kyrgyzstan company. Additionally, 22 coal-fired boiler houses have been transitioned to natural gas heating. Moreover, subsidies totaling 1 billion soms (more than $11 million) have been provided through state banks to city residents for acquiring gas equipment.
Japarov also noted that to diminish vehicle emissions, 4.5 billion soms ($50 million) have been allocated by the government in 2023 to replace public transport minibuses with eco-friendly models, establish electric charging infrastructure, and encourage the purchase of electric vehicles.
Another measure to minimize air pollution in the capital involved the complete containment of fires at the Bishkek landfill—a long-standing issue—alongside the land's remediation.
"Greening also holds significant value. Within Bishkek, 22,000 trees and 110,000 shrubs have been planted as live fences. In 2023 alone, 7 million trees were planted. There has been a renovation and improvement of park areas, covering a total area of 4.3 hectares," highlighted the chairman of the cabinet.
The $50 million loan from the WB for the Kyrgyzstan air quality improvement project aims to reinforce the air quality management system, implement eco-friendly heating solutions, and promote urban greening.
