Kurdistan
A screenshot from Rudaw's Lagal Ranj program, hosted by Ranj Sangawi, discussing air pollution in the Kurdistan Region and its impact on the environment with researchers and businessmen on July 24, 2024. Photo: Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Air pollution, exacerbated by high concentrations of lead and illegal fuel additives, is causing around 4,000 illnesses in Erbil, experts warn. Emissions from illegal refineries and thousands of private electricity generators are the main factors, amid government efforts to regulate.
"Smoke from burning fuel directly affects the skin, respiratory, and digestive systems, and exacerbates conditions such as hypertension, anxiety, and insomnia," Salar Adnan, a biochemistry expert from the University of Kurdistan-Hawler, told Rudaw’s Ranj Sangawi in late July.
Adnan attributed the health issues to the high concentrations of lead in the air. "To increase fuel octane rating, 12 types of additives are used, all of which are illegal," he noted.
Yahiya Ahmed, an environmental science and health specialist from Salahaddin University, highlighted the geographical factors exacerbating air pollution in the region.
"Erbil is built at the lowest elevation among the four parts of [Greater] Kurdistan, which aggravates air pollution issues," he explained.
Ahmed's research indicates that Erbil's air quality is often worse than that of Basra and sometimes even Baghdad.
Areas mostly affected in Erbil are in the south towards the Kirkuk road and the western parts, due to nearby factories. Ahmed emphasized the severe impact of emissions from illegal and unregulated refineries, stating they are "a thousand times more harmful" than those from electricity generators.
A report by journalist Nawzad Mahmoud detailed the number of private electricity generators. Over 7,000 generators produce over five million amperes of electricity for around 1.3 million people, with Erbil accounting for the largest number of generators, followed by Sulaimani and then Duhok. In Erbil alone, eight percent of these generators are located in villages. During the summer and winter months, private generators operate nearly 14 hours a day.
The numbers do not include household generators.
Rebin Samad from the surveying department of Erbil Polytechnic University noted that more than one ton of harmful gasses is released into the air for every 12 hours a generator operates.
Mahmoud’s report revealed that the Kurdistan Region has the capacity to produce 7,000 megawatts of electricity but only delivers 3,500 megawatts due to a lack of fuel.
Sarbaz Karim, spokesperson for Erbil’s gas sellers committee, stated that there are ten types of fuel on the market. Barrels sold for 90,000 Iraqi dinars (around 70 dollars) contain high kerosene and oil content, while those worth 160,000 dinars (over 120 dollars) are safer for generators.
Farhad Abdullah, a private generator owner, expressed concerns about the cost of fuel. "We cannot profit if we buy a barrel at 150,000 dinars (around 115 dollars). I personally buy it at 125,000 dinars (around 96 dollars)," he said.
Abdullah revealed that the committee for regulating generators has inspected his generator three times in the past month. He requested that the government provide high-quality gas from the few refineries in the Kurdistan Region that produce high-quality fuel.
On Sunday, Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw announced that more than 100 illegal refineries in the province have been ordered to shut down. He set a deadline for legal refineries to comply with environmental regulations and called on the Kurdistan Region’s natural resources ministry to stop providing crude oil to the illegal refineries.
Aso Sarawi contributed to this article
"Smoke from burning fuel directly affects the skin, respiratory, and digestive systems, and exacerbates conditions such as hypertension, anxiety, and insomnia," Salar Adnan, a biochemistry expert from the University of Kurdistan-Hawler, told Rudaw’s Ranj Sangawi in late July.
Adnan attributed the health issues to the high concentrations of lead in the air. "To increase fuel octane rating, 12 types of additives are used, all of which are illegal," he noted.
Yahiya Ahmed, an environmental science and health specialist from Salahaddin University, highlighted the geographical factors exacerbating air pollution in the region.
"Erbil is built at the lowest elevation among the four parts of [Greater] Kurdistan, which aggravates air pollution issues," he explained.
Ahmed's research indicates that Erbil's air quality is often worse than that of Basra and sometimes even Baghdad.
Areas mostly affected in Erbil are in the south towards the Kirkuk road and the western parts, due to nearby factories. Ahmed emphasized the severe impact of emissions from illegal and unregulated refineries, stating they are "a thousand times more harmful" than those from electricity generators.
A report by journalist Nawzad Mahmoud detailed the number of private electricity generators. Over 7,000 generators produce over five million amperes of electricity for around 1.3 million people, with Erbil accounting for the largest number of generators, followed by Sulaimani and then Duhok. In Erbil alone, eight percent of these generators are located in villages. During the summer and winter months, private generators operate nearly 14 hours a day.
The numbers do not include household generators.
Rebin Samad from the surveying department of Erbil Polytechnic University noted that more than one ton of harmful gasses is released into the air for every 12 hours a generator operates.
Mahmoud’s report revealed that the Kurdistan Region has the capacity to produce 7,000 megawatts of electricity but only delivers 3,500 megawatts due to a lack of fuel.
Sarbaz Karim, spokesperson for Erbil’s gas sellers committee, stated that there are ten types of fuel on the market. Barrels sold for 90,000 Iraqi dinars (around 70 dollars) contain high kerosene and oil content, while those worth 160,000 dinars (over 120 dollars) are safer for generators.
Farhad Abdullah, a private generator owner, expressed concerns about the cost of fuel. "We cannot profit if we buy a barrel at 150,000 dinars (around 115 dollars). I personally buy it at 125,000 dinars (around 96 dollars)," he said.
Abdullah revealed that the committee for regulating generators has inspected his generator three times in the past month. He requested that the government provide high-quality gas from the few refineries in the Kurdistan Region that produce high-quality fuel.
On Sunday, Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw announced that more than 100 illegal refineries in the province have been ordered to shut down. He set a deadline for legal refineries to comply with environmental regulations and called on the Kurdistan Region’s natural resources ministry to stop providing crude oil to the illegal refineries.
Aso Sarawi contributed to this article
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