Minister of Ecology Vladimir Chasovitin outlined difficulties in the fight for clean air in Krasnoyarsk
In Krasnoyarsk, there are objective difficulties that hinder the fight for clean air. This opinion was expressed during the annual report to the regional parliament by the Minister of Ecology Vladimir Chasovitin.
The head of the department reported on a significant reduction in the volume of emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere from stationary sources – these include industrial enterprises and the private sector. The load on the atmosphere in the region as a whole decreased by 332.5 thousand tons, and in Krasnoyarsk emissions decreased to 102 thousand tons (-2.9 thousand tons compared to 2023).
Krasnoyarsk, Norilsk, Achinsk, Lesosibirsk and Minusinsk are included in the federal project “Clean Air”. They are improving monitoring of air conditions, installing new observation posts, and reducing emissions of pollutants at enterprises during the period of national emergency. At the expense of the budget, public transport and heating systems in the private sector are being changed in cities; from September 1, 2025, in Achinsk, Krasnoyarsk, Lesosibirsk, Minusinsk, legal entities and individual entrepreneurs do not have the right to use certain types of coal for heating.
Despite this, there is still a serious struggle to be had for the quality of the atmosphere in the regional capital.
“The air pollution index is determined by the five hazardous pollutants of the highest concentration. For Krasnoyarsk in 2024 these were benzopyrene, formaldehyde, styrene, hydrochloride and suspended substances. But if you look at it in percentage terms, benzopyrene affects the index in the amount of 45%, formaldehyde – 32%, and suspended substances – only 5.6%,” the minister said, noting that the concentration of these substances has decreased over the past year.
The minister admitted that reducing gross emissions will not lead to a significant improvement in air quality in Krasnoyarsk. Serious results can be achieved by reducing two main pollutants – benzopyrene and formaldehyde.
“Although formaldehyde in Krasnoyarsk is present as a marker substance in the emissions of some enterprises, it is insignificant. According to a number of scientists, this substance is of secondary origin, formed in the atmosphere as a result of chemical reactions and temperature,” noted Vladimir Chasovitin.
Officially, the sources are wood processing enterprises, building materials, vehicle exhaust gases, burning landfills and others, but secondary methods of its origin force experts to doubt the primary sources. Therefore, in 2025, the government of the Krasnoyarsk Territory entered into an agreement with the SB RAS to study air quality management systems. For this purpose, “digital twins” and experimental stands will be created.
“The average annual excess of benzopyrene at posts is recorded only in the winter months with the beginning of the heating season. The process of separating benzopyrene is the process of burning coal in long-burning boilers, private sector stoves and heating systems of legal entities with low emission sources. There are no methods for calculating emissions for such sources yet,” explained Vladimir Chasovitin, noting that this leads to an underestimation of benzopyrene indicators in summary calculations.
On behalf of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation, calculation methods are at the development stage.
Now in Krasnoyarsk, more than 2.7 thousand households have already switched to more environmentally friendly types of fuel and combustion systems. But in total there are 14 thousand of them in the regional capital. So, so far, Krasnoyarsk residents have not noticed a radical difference. Vladimir Chasovitin noted that comprehensive work in this direction will continue, as well as expand work with industrial enterprises, small and medium-sized businesses.
