OREANDA-NEWS. August 2, 2007. Gazmontazh started replacing a gas pipeline supplying natural gas to the town of Verkhniya Salda. The company expects to spend 1.4 million roubles on that project, less the cost of re-launching gas supply to consumers. The gas main has been operated for 40 years now. This is a "point of no return" for gas pipelines, and a specialist company was in 2005 troubleshooting gas pipelines which have reached the age of 40 at the request of Urals Gas Networks According to its findings, the 120 metre long section of the pipeline which goes along the flood plain of the Chernushka River has significant defects and must be replaced.

Gazmontazh specialists installed a new gas pipeline beside the old pipe. Between 1 and 3 August, they are to connect the new pipe section and dismantle the old one. Since the emergency section is part of the only pipeline supplying gas to the town, it is impossible to make repairs without stopping the gas distribution station and disconnecting consumers from gas supply. A temporary interruption in gas supply will also concern 20,000 town residents.

The gas pipeline replacement programme of the Gazeks holding company for the Sverdlovsk Region has been implemented since 2005 and is expected to be over in 2010. It will make it possible to maintain the required level of safety in operating the regional gas distribution system.