Ulaanbaatar
PM discusses air pollution during "Hour of Solutions"
PoliticsUlaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ At the weekly meeting “Hour of Solutions”, the Premier Ch.Saikhanbileg received Minister of Environment, Green Development and Tourism N.Battsereg and the deputy mayor in charge of ecology and green development of the UB city T.Bat-Erdene on December 2.
Mr Saikhanbileg reminded them that a goal has been set to widen the use of renewable or gas power sources and to intensify actions for providing convenient apartments for ger-area residents, in frames of the acts for reducing the air pollution in Ulaanbaatar.
He also said that a new discounted nighttime tariff regime launched this Monday for the ger area households, halving the electricity tariff between 21.00 and 06.00.
For the next year, MNT 5 billion has been budgeted for the Fund for Reducing Air Pollution.
Minister N.Battsereg informed him about a meetings with the authorities of factories that produce low-emission fuels, namely Derst Tokhoi, Khar Tug, Bayalag Erdene Tsom and Khukh Chono Group, who have a total capacity of producing 145 thousand tons per year.
The government is intending to provide low-emission fuels for 10-12 thousand households in January and February, the peak season of air pollution. The action is estimated to cost MNT 2.8 billion. Additional 300-500 million Togrog of financing will be needed for providing fuels for kindergartens with low-emission stoves, he said. Proposals have been submitted to him, he added, seeking the discount on electric power tariff from Orkhon, Darkhan-Uul, Ovorkhangai, Khovsgol and Bayamkhongor aimags.
The deputy mayor T.Bat-Erdene suggested enabling the access of public heating for ger areas in order to reduce air pollution.
Ending the meeting, the PM directed them to prioritize promoting the proposals and initiatives from the khoroos and districts who have the worst air pollution, and to collaborate with governors of localities, who submitted discount requests.
