Air pollution in Bishkek remains one of the most pressing issues in Kyrgyzstan. The country's authorities, in an attempt to tackle this environmental disaster, are relying on significant external borrowing. However, the effectiveness of these measures is raising more and more questions among specialists and the public, as reported by the CEI "Oi Ordo".
A loan from the World Bank amounting to several million dollars illustrates the gap between officials' promises and the real situation. The anticipated transition to environmentally friendly heating sources for the private sector seems to have shifted towards bureaucratic procedures that merely document existing problems without offering real solutions. Amid growing distrust of "green technologies" from the West, the question arises: where are these loan millions actually going? Will the fight for clean air become a new debt burden for the republic and a source of "green waste"?
Context of the Situation
In 2023, Kyrgyzstan was allocated a loan of $50 million from the World Bank for a project aimed at improving air quality, especially in Bishkek. Discussions regarding this loan were held not only at the official level. In January 2024, the CEI "Oi Ordo" organized a round table, emphasizing the significance of this topic, as Bishkek is among the most polluted cities in the world.
During the round table titled "Choking Capital: How to Exit the Environmental Deadlock," officials reported that $32 million of the allocated $50 would be directed towards transitioning from coal to modern heating technologies. It is expected that around 25,000 households will be able to switch to heat pumps through a revolving loan system. Loans will be provided through commercial banks, and the repaid funds will be reused for issuing new loans to the population, which they believe will contribute to economic growth and job creation. The remaining funds will be distributed as follows: $6 million for a laboratory for the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision, another $6 million will go to "Kyrgyzhydromet" for the establishment of additional air quality monitoring points, and approximately $4 million will be spent on creating a "green" belt in Bishkek. Operational costs will amount to $1.5-2 million.
Real Actions
As reported on March 9 in the Jogorku Kenesh by Asel Rayimkulova, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, the loan funds have already been used to purchase equipment for "Kyrgyzhydromet." A tender has also been announced for the development of project documentation for a new laboratory and information center for air pollution analysis. Eleven automatic air monitoring stations will be installed in five cities, including Bishkek and Osh.
However, it is unclear how these measures can truly improve the environmental situation in Bishkek. Questions regarding the installation of heat pumps remain open, and experts do not express optimism regarding these Western technologies.
Expert Opinion
During the round table, specialists from the CEI "Oi Ordo" expressed doubts about the reliability of green technologies. The main issues are the difficulties with disposing of used components from systems that utilize renewable energy sources. Thus, countries that bet on renewable energy will soon face the problem of "green waste." For example, it is expected that by 2050, the amount of discarded solar panels could reach 78 million tons, and by 2040, over 720 tons of wind turbines will end up in landfills in the USA, experts warn.
If Kyrgyzstan decides to develop green energy, a special landfill for the storage or burial of such waste will need to be created.
At that moment, specialists suggested considering the possibility of gasification of the capital with the help of "Gazprom," instead of relying on World Bank loans that push the country towards implementing green technologies requiring a commercial basis and markets for sale.
Experts ironically noted: "The paradox is that we are taking loans for green technologies, hoping that Western donors will write off our other debts."
Moreover, despite strict anti-Russian sanctions, EU countries continue to purchase Russian gas for heating and industrial supply, which also raises doubts about the viability of the chosen path.
