Ulaanbaatar
Government ban on raw coal comes into effect from today
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The Government resolution to ban the consumption of raw coal in
the capital city has come into effect from today, May 15. Seeing the necessity
to ban raw coal and replace it with refined coal, the Government made the
resolution on February 28, 2018. With realization of these responsive actions,
the air pollution is believed to be decreased by about 50 percent.
According to the resolution, households, entities and
organizations are banned to burn raw coal beginning today, however thermal
power plants and power stations in the city are excluded from the ban.
A household that burns 4-5 tons of coal in heating season will consume two-fold
less refined coal, which is an economically beneficial alternative. Tests
confirmed that the refined fuel has twice higher caloric value than the raw
coal, alongside its twice longer combustion period.
Introducing the refined coal into home use is one of prompt
measures. In parallel, policy actions are underway, including the issuance of
low-interest mortgage loans, introduction of electric heaters and
liquefied gas into use as well as housing projects.
The city’s annual consumption of raw coal is 1.2 million tons,
producing over 80 percent of total air pollution.
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