Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — As temperatures have fallen and atmospheric inversion conditions have developed, complaints about emissions from coal-heated greenhouses have increased in the Tashkent metropolitan area. Such inversions occur when nighttime temperatures drop sharply and there is little or no wind.
Residents of Yunusabad District, in particular, have reported deteriorating air quality and unpleasant odours, generally associated with the use of coal to heat greenhouses.
Environmental service specialists have responded to each complaint by visiting the sites, conducting inspections and collecting air samples to obtain reliable data and take action against those responsible for emissions into Tashkent’s atmosphere.
A special commission is implementing a set of measures to reduce the adverse impact of various human-related pollution sources on the capital’s air quality. The main sources include industrial enterprises, motor vehicles and heating systems. During autumn and winter, greenhouses located near residential areas also contribute to the problem.
Greenhouse operators’ proposals
Greenhouse operators have repeatedly expressed their readiness to modernise existing facilities, switch to environmentally friendly heating technologies and reduce emissions to safe levels in line with established standards.
Their proposals include adopting energy-efficient technologies and equipping greenhouses with modern heating systems featuring real-time emissions monitoring.
Specifically, operators propose that facilities equipped with heating systems and holding positive conclusions from state environmental assessments should use natural gas, including liquefied natural gas, electricity, geothermal and solar energy, as well as waste heat generated by thermal power plants.
If these technologies cannot be used, the operators propose allowing greenhouses to continue using coal for heating.
In such cases, according to their proposals, facilities would have to install modern, certified boilers fitted with emission-cleaning and filtration systems that meet applicable standards. They would also need video surveillance systems capable of transmitting data and video feeds to the National Environmental Monitoring Centre of the National Committee on Ecology.
Review of proposals and measurement results
The proposals were reviewed by a working group comprising representatives of the National Committee on Ecology, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Energy and other relevant government bodies.
Greenhouse operators presented a prototype integrated heating system consisting of boiler equipment and a filtration system based on Chinese technology.
Specialists from the National Environmental Monitoring Centre repeatedly measured atmospheric emissions in the presence of media representatives and members of the Public Council under the National Committee on Ecology, following an approved methodology.
Measurements conducted on 30 September and 8 October this year found that emissions from the prototype filter system did not meet standards considered safe for public health. Under an agreement reached by the parties, the operators must improve the prototype, after which the working group will conduct further measurements.
The working group has also prepared a draft document establishing safe emission standards for filters used in greenhouse boiler equipment.
Support measures and oversight
A substantial package of subsidies and tax incentives is planned for operators intending to transform their facilities into “green greenhouses”.
At the same time, citing the harm caused to public health by pollutant emissions, authorities are maintaining a ban on business operations in the metropolitan area for facilities that lack environmentally safe heating systems.
The National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, together with the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Guard, will conduct ongoing environmental monitoring of greenhouse operations while complying with the current moratorium on inspections of business entities.
