Severe Smog Covers Oskemen
Photo: Elena Medvedeva, Orda.kz
By morning, residents in several districts of the regional center could barely see nearby buildings, a correspondent for Orda.kz reports.
The city was hit by second-level adverse weather conditions (NMC). Smog, fog, and smoke blended into a single, dense layer covering the area.
Between 00:00 and 17:00, exceedances of maximum allowable concentrations (MAC) were recorded at monitoring posts No. 1 and No. 3:
- Post No. 1 (Rabochaia St. 6): hydrogen chloride — one case, up to 1.1 MAC
- Post No. 3 (Serikbaev St. 19): hydrogen sulfide — 13 cases, up to 1.8 MAC; sulfur dioxide — 13 cases, up to 1.4 MAC
Overall, on December 3, the city recorded average exceedances of 1.488 times the limit for sulfur dioxide and 1.813 times the limit for hydrogen sulfide.
Residents again raised the question of switching schoolchildren to remote learning on days with NMC, and also recalled the mobile laboratory worth 65.5 million tenge that was recently handed over to environmental authorities.
Earlier, East Kazakhstan Region Akim Nuryumbet Saktaganov said the mobile complex would allow environmental services and the regional Ecology Department to identify pollution sources and conduct real-time measurements.
The data was expected to be published openly, accessible to any resident. However, people still do not know where these results can be viewed.
The mobile eco-lab was reported to be equipped with high-precision analysis systems capable of monitoring all key pollutants typical for an industrial city.
In addition, nearly half a billion tenge was previously allocated to improve the region’s environmental situation. At the time, the East Kazakhstan Akimat press service said:
"A tender has been announced to purchase a new atmospheric monitoring system worth 498.5 million tenge. The contract is in the signing stage."
Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov also stated that during second- and third-level NMCs, or when harmful substances exceed allowable concentrations by more than three times, local authorities have the right to switch students to remote learning.
In November 2024, Oskemen schoolchildren were moved online for several days due to smog.
However, problems later arose because no formal algorithm existed. In late October, the city experienced extended NMCs. The local Education Department explained:
"Classes may be canceled only when adverse weather conditions occur, in accordance with approved indicators."
This means cancellation applies only to severe weather — such as extreme cold or blizzards. Smog-related NMCs are not included in the list.
As Oskemen continues to search for solutions to its environmental crisis, residents are actively sharing videos on social media.
Meanwhile, East Kazakhstan senators Olga Bulavkina and Shakarym Buktugutov submitted an inquiry to the government, reminding officials that polluted air is deadly.
Original Author: Elena Medvedeva
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