Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, 31 October 2022 – Improving how homes are heated is the most effective way to prevent deaths from poor air quality in the Kyrgyz capital, finds the first ever study of key air pollution sources and impacts for the city released today. Contact online >>
Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, 31 October 2022 – Improving how homes are heated is the most effective way to prevent deaths from poor air quality in the Kyrgyz capital, finds the first ever study of key air pollution sources and impacts for the city released today.
The report, Air Quality in Bishkek: An assessment of emission sources and roadmap for supporting air quality management, was carried out by the Finnish Meteorological Institute for the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). The types and timing of emissions detected by the study indicate that sulphur-rich coal used to heat homes is by far the main source of air pollution in the Kyrgyz capital, the assessment reveals. A roadmap of policy options is proposed for the housing, transport, power generation and waste sectors over the next three years.
Bishkek''s powerplant may contribute less than 1% of ground-level concentrations of harmful particles known as PM2.5 and PM10, partly because its tall chimneys disperse pollution away from the city, the assessment finds. Meanwhile, 70% of homes in the Kyrgyz Republic are heated by coal, causing the most dangerous levels of fine particulate matter — PM2.5. These microscopic particles of air pollution can penetrate deep into the lungs, cross the lung barrier and enter the blood system, causing heart and respiratory diseases and lung cancer, for example.
Louise Chamberlain, UNDP Resident Representative at the presentation of the report said: "Bishkek needs system-wide action with innovative energy solutions to tackle the pollution challenge and make the switch to clean and affordable heating and transport technologies. The most vulnerable and marginalised people play an important role in changing consumption patterns and we have this great opportunity to include them in building a more fair and sustainable economy."
"This report equips decision-makers with the strongest scientific basis to date for taking impactful action to tackle air pollution in Bishkek," said Aidai Kurmanova, Head of UNEP''s Central Asia Office. "The solutions at hand will save lives, help tackle the climate crisis and earn savings in the healthcare sector".
The Kyrgyz capital is regularly ranked among the top five cities with the most polluted air in the world during the wintertime heating period. Annual mean PM2.5 levels in the city by far exceed all national and international guidelines, the study finds. During 2010-2019, approximately 4100-5000 people died prematurely each year due to air pollution in the Kyrgyz Republic, representing 12-13% of annual deaths. Poor mixing conditions of the air exacerbate the problem in Bishkek.
A prescription to avoid deaths
Emissions of all key pollutants are expected to grow significantly towards 2040 under a ''business as usual'' scenario. For example, by that date, PM2.5 emissions would be estimated to increase by 60%, driven primarily by increases in emissions caused by how homes are heated.
To avert this, the assessment lays out a roadmap of policy options covering key emission sources. For the residential sector, affordable clean alternatives to coal such as heat pumps could be promoted and efficiency measures be stepped up, the report''s roadmap recommends. Fuel standards could be tightened in the transport sector, while renewable energy could meanwhile play a bigger role in power generation. Reducing the use of fossil fuels would not only improve air quality but also contribute to climate action and lead to savings in healthcare costs, the report underlines.
Air quality monitoring must be improved to provide decision-makers with better data — including on how effective policy actions are, the assessment finds. Dense low-cost air quality sensor networks can also be used to assess air quality hotpots. Meanwhile, modernizing air quality legislation is essential, and can help to better understand the impact on human health, the report stresses.
About the UN Development Programme (UNDP)UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, Inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.
About the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)UNEP is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
For more information, please contact:
Meerim Ruslanbekova, UNDP Communications Specialist, +996 772 75 19 29Mark Grassi, Information Assistant, UNEP Europe Office, +41 788750086
WASHINGTON, July 6, 2023 – The World Bank''s Board of Executive Directors approved today $6.9 million in Additional Financing to the ongoing Heat Supply Improvement Project for the Kyrgyz Republic. This Additional Financing complements the original $41 million Heat Supply Improvement Project that was approved on October 27, 2017, and became effective on April 25, 2019.
The combined investments under the Heat Supply Improvement Project will help improve the efficiency and quality of Bishkek district heating through heating network reconstruction and rehabilitation, installation of individual heat substations and heat and hot water smart meters and spare parts. Furthermore, energy efficiency and seismic resilience investments will be implemented in selected 21 public buildings – schools, kindergartens, hospitals, and clinic centers – throughout the country. The expected key outcomes of the project include energy savings equalling more than eight million gigajoules of fuel and significnat improvements in the quality of heating for more than 165,000 beneficiaries.
"The additional financing in the amount of $6.9 million will fill the financing gap and complete the rehabilitation of the "Vostok" heating transmission network. The funding gap has occurred primarily due to increased costs caused by inflation, supply chain disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ongoing war in Ukraine. This additional financing will allow to implement all planned activities under the project and consequently help achieve the project development objective in full," said Yae Jun Kim, World Bank''s Energy Specialist and Task Team Leader of the Project.
The loan for the Additional Financing for theHeat Supply Improvement Project is provided on highly concessional terms through theInternational Development Association(IDA). The project will be implemented through 2024 by the "Electric Power Plants" OJSC in compliance with strict international standards including procurement and financial management regulations and anti-corruption guidelines.
The World Bank''s overall mission in the Kyrgyz Republic is to reduce poverty and promote economic growth and shared prosperity. The 30-year partnership between the World Bank and the Kyrgyz Republic has brought about significant development gains in all major sectors of the economy through investments of $2.8 billion in 150 projects, technical assistance, and advisory and analytics.
IEA (2020), Kyrgyzstan energy profile, IEA, Paris https://, Licence: CC BY 4.0
Kyrgyzstan''s oil and gas resources are marginal, but those of coal are substantial. Recoverable oil reserves are estimated at 5Mt, with 10Mt of resources, and gas reserves are estimated at 6billion cubic metres (bcm) and 20bcm of resources. Explored coal reserves amount to 1.3 billion tonnes (Bt). Kyrgyzstan ranks fifteenth-highest in the world for hard coal resources, but the government estimates that coal reserves are actually larger, at 2 Bt.
Most oil and gas deposits have been exploited for over 70years and have produced approximately 70% of their economically viable capacity. In addition, newer oil wells dating from 1992 have depreciated by 30%, so between resource depletion and ageing equipment, oil and gas production has declined considerably since the early 1990s. The government therefore plans to exploit new well sites in the future, with potential recognised in the Ferghana Valley, the Alai Valley, the Naryn Basin, the Issyk-Kul basin and the eastern Chuy Basin.
Kyrgyzstan has approximately 70 coal deposits, but as the majority are difficult to exploit, resources are much greater than reserves. Nevertheless, the government plans to increase coal mining considerably, from 450kt in 2010 to 3Mt in 2025 (production was 2.395Mt in 2018). Growth will come from a 30% increase in the existing mines of Kara‑Keche, Besh-Burhan, Zhergalan, Sulukta and Tash-Kumyr.
Concerning hydropower, the potential of Kyrgyzstan''s rivers is approximately ten times what is currently utilised.
Kyrgyzstan''s energy system is subject to supply security threats as well as other challenges. The network is old and inefficient, and losses are high. In addition, hydro-based electricity production is susceptible to seasonal and weather-related fluctuations: electricity supply is therefore less reliable due to lower water inflows and high demand during the winter months. Furthermore, while demand centres are in the north, more than 80% of hydropower capacity is in the south. Old transmission connections are a further handicap.
The government''s primary focus is on diversifying energy sources and increasing domestic production, mainly for hydropower; in addition, a number of rehabilitation projects for existing thermal power plants are currently being implemented. The reconstruction of the Bishkek TEC-1 plant to increase capacity by an additional 300megawatts (MW) was carried out in 2017. At present, the reconstruction of heating networks in Bishkek and Osh as well as the reconstruction of substations and improvement of power regulation and water management at the Toktogul Reservoir are also being implemented.
The government has concrete targets, yet their implementation remains a challenge due to the inadequate finances of the energy sector. The unsustainable tariff subsidy regime imposes a significant financial burden, which has resulted in a serious lag in modernisation and expansion of the electricity, heat and gas systems. Growing demand and insufficient investment do not bode well for Kyrgyzstan''s energy security.
Electricity generation capacity in Kyrgyzstan was 3.9gigawatts (GW) in 2018, from 15hydropower plants (HPPs) (3GW) and two co-generation plants (0.812GW).1 The electricity transmission network is more than 80 000km long, including 946km of 500‑kV lines, 2019km of 220‑kV lines, 4613km of 110‑kV lines, and roughly 190 transformer substations. About 80% of the hydro capacity is in the south, connected by a 500‑kV line to the northern regions that account for 60% of electricity consumption.
Four cities have district heating: Bishkek (85% of households), Osh (35-40%), Kyzyl-Kiya (60%) and Karakol (26%). Electric boilers are the main heat source for the district systems, with approximately 3000 boilers in operation.
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