In the Vitebsk region, work on the transition to local types of fuel continues

Over the last 10 years, the housing and communal services enterprises of the region have increased their consumption of local types of fuel (LTF) by 5.5 times. The natural gas substitution amounted to 120 million cubic meters. Last year, 9 boilers with mechanized loading, operating on LTF, with a total capacity of 23 MW were commissioned. As a result, the share of economical fuel used in this sector reached 54 percent, which is the best result in the republic. Also, in 2012, 14 units of logging equipment were acquired for these purposes, including 6 high-efficiency chippers for producing wood chips (Beshenkovichi, Borovka, Liozno, Orsha, Polotsk, Shumilino).

The housing and communal services system has implemented over 220 investment projects within the framework of measures provided for by energy saving programs, "Clean Water," innovative and investment development of the region in terms of construction of waste disposal facilities, and regional programs for the improvement of populated areas. 10 water supply facilities and 4 wastewater disposal facilities were commissioned, which made it possible to provide high-quality drinking water to more than 24 thousand residents of 10 settlements and improve the environmental situation in 4 district centers. Significant facilities include: the 1st stage of construction of apartment buildings in the agro-town of Novka, Vitebsk region (water supply), commissioning of a de-ironing station in Rossony, the 1st stage of reconstruction with expansion of treatment facilities in Gorodok, and reconstruction of sewage treatment facilities in Ushachi.

According to Yuri Dyadyolo, Head of the Housing and Communal Services Department of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, speaking at a conference held as part of the International Forum "Innovations in Energy Saving – Investments in the Future," 149 billion rubles will be allocated to energy saving in this sector in 2013. These funds are intended to convert 11 boilers to MVTs, which will reduce natural gas consumption by 14 million cubic meters per year. The replacement of 120 kilometers of heating networks will reduce the share of heat loss from 19.2 percent to 17.2 percent. This year, housing and communal services enterprises face the following tasks: to reduce electricity consumption for the production of 1 Gcal by at least 2 percent, to decrease the consumption of light petroleum products by 7 percent, and to achieve an energy saving indicator of 7 percent in the overall energy costs. The development of water supply and sewerage services will continue. Plans include the construction of 39 water supply and sewerage facilities. The sewerage siphons across the Western Dvina in Vitebsk (DSK district – Tarny settlement), and the treatment facilities in Dokshitsy and Rossony will be reconstructed. The construction of landfills for solid municipal waste disposal is also planned in Novopolotsk, Chashniki, Glubokoye, Postavy, and Vitebsk.

Investment attraction into fixed capital within the region's housing and communal services system is expected to be around 440 billion rubles, or 110 percent compared to the 2012 level.

Nadezhda Fondarenko, "Vitebsky Rabochiy"

photo: regioninvest.by