Only one automatic air quality monitoring station operates in all of Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan faces significant challenges in monitoring air quality due to a lack of adequate infrastructure, with only one automatic monitoring station currently operational nationwide. This single station is situated at the Kyrgyzhydromet.

Gulnara Abdyldaeva, director of the "Improving Air Quality" project implementation department at the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision, highlighted the insufficient equipment. She explained that current resources do not allow for a complete and accurate picture of air pollution levels throughout the country. While various organizations install sensors, the government intends to create a unified state system for monitoring, analysis, and forecasting.

“

There is not enough equipment to get a complete and accurate picture of air pollution in the country.

As part of this initiative, new automatic stations are planned for installation in Bishkek, Osh, Kara-Balta, Tokmok, Cholpon-Ata, and Manas. Tender procedures and supplier selections are currently underway. Additionally, existing manual air pollution monitoring points in Bishkek and Osh are being modernized.

The project, which began in 2024 with support from the World Bank, also includes plans to construct an environmental laboratory and a data processing center. Information from the monitoring stations will be collected and made publicly available in an understandable format. Abdyldaeva emphasized that accurate data is crucial not only for informing citizens but also for enabling government agencies to make effective decisions on reducing air pollution. The project's total cost is $50 million, provided as a preferential, interest-free loan to Kyrgyzstan.

“

The accurate data is needed not only for informing citizens but also for government agencies to make decisions on reducing air pollution.