Source: Udriin Sonin                          Date: 21 September, 2010

The Millennium Challenge Account-Mongolia (MCA-M) and XasBank last week signed an agreement to cooperate on joint implementation of a clean air project to reduce air pollution in Ulaanbaatar.  Around USD31 million of MCA-M money will be used to produce energy efficient products and increase their use in ger district households.

The plan is to provide financial assistance to households to enable them to buy such products and to set up arrangements to market such products to consumers. XasBank will be responsible for distributing the financial support to households. The program is expected to begin in XII khoroo of Chingeltei district in winter 2011, and then gradually spread to all khoroos of the city. The ger districts account for some 60% of the population of Ulaanbaatar, and if they use energy efficient, environment-friendly products, the air pollution caused by burning coal is expected to be significantly reduced.