The city will keep total coal consumption under 7 million tonnes this year, according to the commission.

Beijing will close more coal-fired boilers, and replace all low-quality coal with clean coal in rural areas, said Chai Wenzhong, deputy head of the commission.

A new natural gas pipeline that will transfer gas from Shaanxi Province to Beijing is under construction and expected to be in operation by the end of October.

Local authorities announced earlier this year that the city plans to invest 18 billion yuan (2.6 billion U.S. dollars) in treating air pollution this year. At least 500 manufacturers will be shut down and heavy diesel vehicles restricted.

Emissions from burning coal are a source of breathable toxic particulate matter, known as PM2.5, which causes smog.

Studies have been conducted for the factories, and their results will be discussed by the cabinet for approval, reports the Minister of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry.

Within this program, a major national manufacturer APU Company has set a goal to increase investment for dairy production in 2017. APU has constituted 21.4 percent of the milk market in 2016, and has been exporting its products to Russia, South Korea, and Hong Kong, China.

As for heavy industry, the Government has named four major projects, including a oil processing plant in Sainshand and Ferrous Complex in Darkhan-Selenge region. 
A bid has been announced for companies that are interested in preparing the feasibility study and consulting for the oil processing plant project. Four India-based companies have taken parts in the bid, two of them were selected. The final results will come out by April 15.

The feasibility study of the Ferrous Complex of Darkhan –Selenge region is projected to complete within July.

Another heavy industry project on coal gasification plant is expecting a complete feasibility study in the near future. The coal gasification plant project is funded by World Bank.

The Government has set to forward a project on copper concentrate plant.

The meeting took place among media representatives and officials of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and Ulaanbaatar Mayor’s Office. Present were also, Minister of Environment and Tourism D.Oyunkhorol and Deputy Mayor of Ulaanbaatar in charge of Green Growth and Air Pollution J.Batbayasgalan.

The city administration and the government have been fiercely criticized for the past several year that they have been making the issue of air pollution fade away as the climate gets warmer and the smog level decreases naturally.

“The city administration has been doing its best to satisfy its residents on this problem. However, we need journalists’ support on introducing and implementing this nationwide program targeted to reducing air pollution”, said J.Batbayasgalan.

The national program was approved on March 20 by the cabinet of ministers, with five key objectives to be realized in 2017-2019 (Phase I) and 2020-2025 (Phase II). Total initial cost will be MNT 9.9 billion.

Minister D.Oyunkhorol informed: the Key Strategic Objectives include Sophistication of urban planning; Decentralization; Improving infrastructure; Curbing pollution and Shaping eco-friendly lifestyle among citizens and ensuring people’s right to secure and healthy living environment, as set out in the Constitution of Mongolia.

Within the First Objective, the program actions will be directed at gradually reducing usage of raw coal for fuel by introducing households to latest environmentally friendly technologies. Decentralization, the Second Ovjective, is to be mobilized through adequate urban planning and infrastructure policies.

Raising public’s awareness of pollutants and establishing an merit and incentive-based system for curbing air pollution are also important factor in making the objective come in life, said the Minister.