The Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic has initiated a public discussion on a draft resolution to ban the export from the country of used catalysts, as well as slag, ash, and residues of precious metals contained in them.
The main goal of this project is to protect the health of the population and the environment, as well as to reduce air pollution caused by vehicle emissions.
It is noted that even with existing measures, the problem of air pollution in the republic remains extremely relevant. According to experts, the main sources of pollution are stationary sources—such as energy and mining enterprises—as well as transportation.
Statistics show that stationary sources emit about 60,000 tons of pollutants into the atmosphere every year, while road transport contributes approximately 400,000 tons. Moreover, there is a trend of increasing emissions from mobile sources.
The quality of atmospheric air is monitored in cities such as Bishkek, Osh, Tokmok, Kara-Balta, and Cholpon-Ata using 14 stationary posts and one automatic station. In Bishkek, the automatic station conducts round-the-clock monitoring of 11 indicators, including nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone, as well as particulate matter PM10, PM4, PM2.5, and PM1. According to monitoring data, the annual average concentrations of several pollutants exceed permissible norms.
For example, in 2025, the average concentration of nitrogen dioxide was 0.07 mg/m³, reaching 2.3 MAC during the winter months. The concentration of formaldehyde, in turn, reached 2.7 MAC, and in May, maximum values exceeded the norm by 3.7 times. In winter, there is also a sharp increase in PM2.5 due to adverse weather conditions and the active use of coal during the heating season.
The Ministry reminds that catalysts play a critically important role in the vehicle exhaust system, neutralizing harmful substances such as hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides. The cost of catalysts is high, as they contain precious metals such as platinum, palladium, and rhodium, and can account for up to 13% of the vehicle's cost.
The recent rise in prices for palladium and other precious metals has contributed to an increase in cases of theft and voluntary removal of catalysts from vehicles for resale, leading to a rise in the export of used catalysts abroad.
A ban on the export of catalysts was previously introduced in August 2021 on a temporary basis for six months and was subsequently extended. As a result of these restrictions, there has been a decrease in the volumes of exports of catalysts, slag, and ash containing precious metals.
Considering the ongoing environmental issues in major cities and the growing interest in used catalysts, the ministry is once again bringing to discussion the project to extend the ban on their export for another six months.
