Despite repeated Government reassurances and several
projects and programs the Air Quality Office says air pollution has not  been reduced. The stoves in 170,000 ger
district households are blamed for 50% of the air pollution in Ulaanbaatar,
while emission from 140,000 motor vehicles contributes 20%. The other 30% come
from 1,400 small and middle sized low pressure steam boilers, the three power
stations, unpaved roads and construction work.

This year could see a change as ger households will
receive smokeless firewood. An Air Quality Office (AQO) specialist, N.Gankhuu,
has said four companies have already produced about 2,500 tons of this. Use of
less polluting firewood has been increasing over the years, but the rise in
number of ger district residents nullified the gain.

The companies producing this special firewood have not received any help from
the Government which has, however, allocated MNT500 million to heating the
floor of 370 households.