Air pollution has reached such a level that one Mongolian in ten has respiratory problems, according to doctors. Worse is their view that one in three newborns is likely to fall ill because of the smoke in the air we breathe. Hopes that things may soon start looking up seem more ambitious than realistic.

Friday’s meeting of the energy subcommittee under the President’s Office to discuss further moves to reduce air pollution in Ulaanbaatar’s fume was attended by MCS Holding, which plans to produce coal gas for heating, Steppesolar LLC, which plans to produce energy from underground heat, Deputy Mayor D.Ganbold, and D.Battulga, head of the President’s Office. 

Concern was expressed about whether the energy sector will be able to generate the extra electricity if households in ger districts take to heating by electricity when power tariff is reduced 50% at night. Until that is assured the households will continue to burn coal.

MCS Holding faces problems with importing methanol, essential to produce coal gas. Steppesolar LLC will have to use high cost equipment to implement its project, and its product may become too expensive for household consumers.