Astana City Administration (Akimat).
The Astana mayor’s office recently reported a 22 percent reduction of emissions’ volume from energy enterprises, leading to a “favourable” pollution rating.
According to a city press release, 24,700 tonnes of emissions were released in 2014 with 27,200 released in 2015.Levels of nitrogen oxides also decreased by 19 percent (1,700 tonnes per year) and the amount of sulphur dioxide was reduced by 21 percent (3,900 tonnes per year).
The city will continue pollution reduction efforts with a 2015-2016 plan to improve Astana’s air quality, including Astana Energy environmental activities and control measures over motor vehicles’ emissions.
Improved reclamation of ash at disposal area No. 1 and the launching of ash disposal area No. 2 at Heat Electropower Station – 2 reduced dust emissions by 35 percent. Furthermore, 440 gasoline and diesel vehicles have been checked at the Astana – Karaganda and Astana – Kokshetau route. Among them, 36 cars exceeded the allowed level of exhaust, which have been included in the protocols of the administrative police service.
At the beginning of the year, the average pollution index was about 4.2 units, which is estimated as “low” by the Kazhydromet gradation. The main sources of air pollution remain motor transport, energy sector enterprises as well as the private housing sector which continue to heat their homes with coal or diesel.
