Residents of Kara-Balta blame Kyrgyzstan’s largest oil refinery for health problems as a $194 million upgrade runs over budget and past its deadline, with President Japarov refusing to close the plant but offering to consider relocating affected residents.
Eco-police found sulphur dioxide at 1,533 times the legal limit and inorganic dust at up to 24.9 times the standard at a Bekobod steel and ferroalloy plant, triggering a 1.63 billion soum fine and mandatory filtration overhaul.
