Media Monitor

Baghdad convenes emergency committee to tackle sulfur emissions and pollution

BAGHDAD – A government committee held an urgent meeting on Sunday to address worsening pollution in Baghdad, with the Ministry of Electricity and Ministry of Oil spearheading efforts, according to Luay Al-Mukhtar, spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment. Speaking to Al Iraqiya, Al-Mukhtar detailed both immediate and long-term solutions under consideration, while emphasizing the importance of joint responsibility between government and private sectors in addressing the city’s escalating pollution crisis. He highlighted that activities by the Ministry of Electricity and Ministry of Oil are the primary contributors to the pollution issue.

Recent sulfur emissions have caused deteriorating air quality in Baghdad and surrounding areas, raising public concern. However, the Ministry of Environment assured residents there is “no need for alarm” while advising cautionary measures to mitigate health risks.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has ordered an investigation into the emissions and has formed a committee composed of representatives from key ministries and environmental bodies. The committee is tasked with identifying the sources of the sulfur emissions and proposing solutions, with a report due within two days.

Excerpts from Luay Al-Mukhtar’s interview with Al Iraqiya:

A high-level government committee is working to address pollution issues. This committee held an urgent meeting today to review the recent pollution phenomena, with the participation of the Ministry of Electricity and the Ministry of Oil, both of which are the main entities responsible for the issue. Representatives from the private sector also participated, and there are penalties for private sector entities found violating the current environmental protection law.

We are working on two types of solutions for pollution problems. There are immediate measures that can be taken during this period, and there are long-term solutions that require more time and funding to begin implementing. However, we do not want to get ahead of ourselves and will announce the outcomes of the government committee’s meetings in the next two days.

We cannot only remember environmental pollution problems when they are widely covered in the media and become a “buzz,” while they are ignored throughout the year. There are governmental and non-governmental institutions that have contributed to raising pollution levels. Some power plants are old and dilapidated, running on heavy fuel, along with brick factories operating on heavy oil, the lack of proper waste management from hospitals, and the absence of a standard landfill site in Baghdad.

At the Ministry of Environment, we are not shirking responsibility, but we bear less of it compared to other entities. Over the past years, we have sent numerous notifications to the polluting entities. We have the authority to impose fines and shut down operations, but we are one government, and we share the responsibility collectively to achieve developmental goals.

Advising citizens to stay indoors and keep windows closed should not be mocked on social media. This is a precautionary measure that must be taken to protect public health, similar to the guidance provided during dust storms. However, it is not the ultimate solution.

Power plants bear the largest responsibility for air pollution in Baghdad, such as the Quds plant. We also cannot ignore the pollutants from the Dora refinery and oxidized asphalt factories, as well as brick factories. However, the sulfur cloud phenomenon is currently happening due to certain weather changes, where hot and cold air layers meet, causing pollutants to descend and concentrate in the lower layers rather than dispersing into the upper atmosphere.

The biggest problem in Baghdad is that all these activities are taking place inside the city, not outside it, as is the case in some provinces. We are now conducting a comprehensive survey to identify the violating activities during the night, and our detailed report on these phenomena will be issued tomorrow.