Cars, Catalysts, and Technical Inspection: The Minister of Natural Resources on Efforts to Combat Air Pollution. Interview

Юлия Воробьева • 23.10.2025, 10:30 • Ecology

On October 21, a multilateral dialogue on combating transport-related air pollution in the country took place in Bishkek. At the event, participants discussed air pollution in the capital and the Chui region, as well as possible measures to address it. Representatives of foreign delegations participated in the discussion and shared their experiences in tackling this issue. This is the second forum dedicated to issues of air pollution from transport. The first one took place in February, at the end of the heating season. The Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision, Meder Mashiev, noted that air quality issues in Bishkek and the Chui region require serious attention. “We are actively working on this problem and are already seeing some results. Additionally, it is necessary to exchange experiences with other cities that have succeeded in improving air quality. That is why representatives of scientific institutions and experts have gathered here,” the minister added. In an interview with AKIpress, Mashiev spoke about the current state of atmospheric air and the impact of road transport on its pollution. - What is the share of the transport sector in CO2 emissions in Bishkek? - According to a study conducted by the World Bank three years ago, transport accounts for one-third of all pollutant emissions — over 30%. The remaining pollution is associated with coal burning in residential areas. Next year, we plan to conduct a study involving international experts to determine how pollution sources have changed and to establish protocols for further research with local institutions. - Does the Ministry influence transport electrification policy? - Certainly, it does. We recently approved the NDCs — nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement, where energy efficiency and green transport play a key role. We are collaborating with relevant authorities, such as the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Transport. - Is a fuel shortage expected, and could this accelerate the transition to electric vehicles? - Although we are not developing this policy, it is clear that such disruptions in fuel supply could prompt the population to transition more quickly to alternative modes of transport. - Should vehicle inspections be reinstated? - We believe this is necessary, but it requires the preparation of the appropriate infrastructure. The preparation may take some time, as the infrastructure has deteriorated since the inspection was abolished, and it needs to be restored. - What is the average age of vehicles and what is the situation with catalysts? - As of 2024, there are 1 million 674 thousand vehicles registered in Kyrgyzstan, of which 83% (1 million 392 thousand 737) are older than 15 years. In Bishkek, 426 thousand 946 vehicles are registered, 333 thousand 801 of which are older than 15 years. We are currently preparing new data and analytics. More than 80% of our vehicle fleet consists of older vehicles. However, over the past two years, we have observed positive changes — the fleet is being slightly updated. Regarding catalysts, this issue requires attention. For many years, we have lacked a culture of replacing them. Society needs to recognize the necessity of this practice. We are negotiating with several catalyst manufacturers, including Tsinghua University in China, whose products are becoming increasingly popular due to their affordability and effectiveness. We are conducting test activities, and if everything goes well, we will implement them into our system, but first, a program needs to be developed. - How will the construction of a waste processing plant at the Bishkek landfill affect air pollution in the capital? - This will certainly improve the environmental situation. Our landfill in Bishkek has been overloaded for a long time and has caused many problems, including due to the constant burning of waste. We extinguished it several years ago, and since then, air quality has improved. If we start recycling waste, it will significantly reduce the load on the landfill, which we will also begin to rehabilitate. Initial rehabilitation work has already begun, and we are closely monitoring the construction of the plant. The environmental expertise of the plant has been successfully completed, and we plan to visit it. City hall staff, led by the mayor, have already visited a similar plant in China, where innovative technologies are presented. We are confident in its safety based on the conducted environmental expertise.

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