Arkhangelsk speeds up shift to gas
Transition from fuel oil to natural gas as the main heating source is gaining speed in Arkhangelsk. Fuel oil is a major source of pollution in the region and a more use of natural gas is expected to help the situation.
The last five years some 100-300 apartments have connected to gas supply annually, but in 2011 the development put on speed with 2254 new apartments connected, ASN Info writes.
Both the Arkhangelsk and the Severodvinsk Central Heating Plants and more than 80 boilers have been modernized to function on gas, a step that has cut fuel expenses and air pollution in the town.
Consumption of natural gas in the region has gone up from 1.2 billion cubic meters in 2010 to 2.2 billion cubic meters in 2012.
The plan is to connect the giant shipyards Sevmash and Zvezdochka in Severodvinsk to the gas supply in the nearest future. Also the largest pulp and paper factories in the area will start using natural gas instead of fuel oil.
