OREANDA-NEWS. On 01 April 2008 was announced, that the volume of the power consumption in Irkutsk annually increases; in fact, the city builds new industrial objects; rates of houses construction increase. On the one hand, it is a positive phenomenon- the city economy dynamically develops. However, powermen are concerned about the fact that these rates of development in Irkutsk can lead to power deficiency in the near future. And by 2020 deficiency of thermal power can equal 890 GCal. To solve this problem, in opinion of experts, it is necessary to be prepared in advance. Already now it is necessary to pay attention to issues of power saving, to be engaged in expansion and modernization of the existing thermal power stations, construction of new sources and development of generating capacities. Evgeniy Filsh, Director for the Strategy and Development of Irkutskenergo, told about actions held for solving the problem within the limits of the "South" power project which is realized by the company.

Please tell us about key parameters of the "South" project: what objects will be constructed and modernized, and within what terms? When will the first practical works start?

Now Irkutsk is supplied by the thermal power only from one large thermal source - Novo-Irkutsk Thermal Power Station. The rest part of the city - due to inefficient black oil, coal boiler-houses and electric boiler-houses. This leads to increase in tariffs for the thermal energy and restraint of rates of development of the regional center in some areas. Besides, operation of such a numerous amount of boiler-houses on coal and black oil fuel within the city considerably pollutes the air.

The idea of the project “Creation Of The Uniform System Of Irkutsk And Angarsk Heat Supply” consists in transfer of thermal loading from small inefficient thermal sources of Irkutsk to more effective thermal power stations of Irkutskenergo which are situated in Irkutsk and Angarsk. The project will also allow to unite the system of heat supply of Irkutsk and Angarsk completely, to create a 20-kilometer zone provided with heat.

The program is planned to be realized in several stages. Now Irkutskenergo finishes realization of its first part. In 2007 thermal loading from the "Sverdlovsk" regional boiler-house was transferred to Novo-Irkutsk Thermal Power Station. In the first half of the year 2008 construction of Thermal Main Line ТМ-4 is planned to be completed that will allow to close three electric boiler-houses on the right bank of Irkutsk transferring their loading to the centralized source. The second part of the project is connected with transfer of thermal energy to Leninsky district of Irkutsk from Thermal Power Station-10 (Angarsk). This part of the project is divided into three stages. The first stage presupposes construction of a thermal main line between Thermal Power Station-10 and the Boiler-house of the Northern Industrial Center (Irkutsk), reconstruction of thermal networks of Angarsk for release of thermal capacity of Thermal Power Station-10 to Irkutsk, reconstruction of thermal networks in Novo-Lenino district for reception of heat from Thermal Power Station-10, and also, to close inefficient thermal sources in Novo-Lenino.

The power company realizes this stage independently. The Board of Directors approved the beginning of the project financing. Design and exploration work will be completed in the first quarter 2008. The following stages presuppose construction of thermal main lines Novo-Lenino-Irkutsk-2 - Zhilkino - Military town - the right bank. It is necessary for integration of two large thermal sources of Thermal Power Station-10 and Novo-Irkutsk Thermal Power Station into a uniform thermal network with closing small boiler hoses of these districts. Thus, reconstruct of Thermal Power Station-10 and increase in thermal capacity will be required.

How much funds are required for realization of the project (the investment program for 2008)? What is the program of financing like? Does it consist of the company's resources or involved investments?

The first part of the project stipulates the investment of 2 billion rubles. The second part of the project is more expensive as is connected with construction of a long heating main line between two cities and large scale reconstruction of thermal networks of Angarsk and Leninsky district of Irkutsk. The Irkutskenergo's Board of Directors approved financing of the first stage of the second part of the project (connection to Thermal Power Station-10 of Novo-Lenino district) in the amount of 4.5 billion rubles. Credit resources of banks will be involved for realization of this stage.

How is the "South" project coordinated with other projects - agglomeration (development of new production and enterprises, housing construction)?

The "South" project is infrastructural; it creates a heat power base for development of other projects, including agglomeration. Thus, the project of agglomeration stipulates creation of industrial zone between Irkutsk and Angarsk.

It is necessary to note that the power project is realized within the limits of the social and economic development program of the Irkutsk area. It will allow to solve a number of tasks of regional and local value, including assistance in performance of programs of housing, municipal, industrial construction.

What is the prospective economic benefit of the project? How much will profitability of Thermal Power Station-10 raise? What inefficient thermal sources will be closed and how much funds can be saved owing to this?

In 2007 the "Sverdlovskaya" black oil boiler-house was closed, in 2008 electric boiler-houses on the right bank of the Angara are planned to be closed - "Lisikha", "Baikalskaya", "Releinaya". Later, the boiler-houses of the Northern Industrial Center will be closed, "Novo-Lenino" and "Bytovaya" electric boiler houses.

As a result of realization of the project, we expect to raise efficiency of the combined generation of the electric power at our thermal power stations. There will be released the electric energy and capacity due to closing several electric boiler-houses, it will be possible to remove restrictions for connection to thermal and electric capacity; it is not necessary to put additional financial assets in small thermal sources. Conditions for development of economy of Irkutsk will be created. Tax contributions of Irkutskenergo to the budget of the area will increase, as well as contributions of other enterprises. The net discounted income of the project equals 5 billion rubles. Internal rate of profitableness is 23 %. Term of its recoupment is hardly more than seven years.

The social effect from realization of the project is expected. Reliability of heat supply of Irkutsk will be improved, growth of the tariff for thermal energy will be controlled, the city environmental conditions will be made better.

Who was initiator of the project? What engineers and scientists were involved for its development?

The initiator of the project is Irkutskenergo with participation of the Administration of Angarski Krai. The substantiation of the investment project and development of engineering decisions was worked out by a group of experts of various divisions and industries of our company. Pre-design and design study was carried out by the SibEnTtS VNIPIenergoprom Institute.

How do you think, may connection of Angarsk and Irkutsk thermal systems have negative consequences for Angarsk, in particular, for deficiency of the thermal power? Or is this project coordinated with power efficient projects of the Angarsk companies?

All engineering decisions are thought over not only for the present moment, but also for the future growth of the thermal power consumption, both in Irkutsk, and Angarsk. During realization of the project, the existing reserves of thermal capacity of Angarsk thermal power stations will be involved. Besides, there is an opportunity to reconstruct one or several power units of Thermal Power Station-10 with increase in their thermal capacity. Therefore, there will not be deficiency in the "South" project service area.