Modernization of the heat-supply system of Arkhangelsk Oblast

People in Russia are highly concerned with environmental issues. The situation is most critical in the industrial cities of the country. Arkhangelsk takes the 17th place among the «dirtiest» cities in Russia, and it is in top 20 cities with the highest emissions. But the situation is not as hopeless, as it can seem at a first glance. Not that long ago the regional authorities made some important steps to improve the environmental situation.

Arkhangelsk heat and power supply station was opened in 1970. This allowed to close hundreds small boiling houses and to improve the ecological situation in the city. The station was functioning on black oil and during last decades often experienced fuel supply problems that caused some instability in city-heating. This situation became a trigger for a change from fuel oil into natural gas.

At the moment Arkhangelsk heat electro power station is only partly functioning on gas. For that purpose four out of six boilers have been modernized, and now it is planned to modernize the other two. This measure gave an opportunity to considerably cut the fuel costs as well as to reduce air pollution.

Specialists say that due to this change 700 mln. cubic meters of natural gas will be used instead of burning 400.000 tons of fuel oil.

In near future it is planned to build several more boilers working on natural gas. Gazprom is going to invest the second largest sum for the Arkhangelsk regional gasification, only the Far East is getting more. Besides Arkhangelsk heat electro power station and Severodvinsk heat electro station-2 in 2011 it is planned to finish building of the gas pipeline leading to the Savinsky village of the Plesetsk region.

Transferring into gas-heating will save burning of 10.000 tons of fuel oil.

The pipeline building project is being implemented on the territory of Plesetsk space center, several houses’ heating system in that area has already been put on gas. With the stability in financing Gazpromregiongaz is intending to implement a range of projects in the area, which have significant meaning for the regional economic growth.

Text: Ksenia Kipurova