New Fuel Promises Major Drop in Air Pollution

Sales of semi-coked coal, considered a cleaner alternative to traditional fuels, will begin on October 1 in Ulaanbaatar. City officials expect the fuel to reduce air pollution in the capital by 45 to 50 percent.

Samples of the coal were tested at the Institute of Chemistry of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, as well as in laboratories in South Korea and China. Compared with the improved briquettes currently in use, the results showed an 89 percent reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions, along with a 72 percent decrease in nitrogen oxides, 24 percent in carbon monoxide, and 68 percent in particulate matter. These findings prompted the decision to switch to semi-coked coal.

This winter, the city plans to supply households with 340,000 tons of fuel. Residents will be able to purchase it through a card system or a mobile application.