OREANDA-NEWS. August 1, 2011. A new thermal power plant at Kondopoga, Inc. was launched on July 29. First Deputy Head of the Republic of Karelia Yuri Kancher, Deputy to the State Duma of the Russian Federation from the Republic of Karelia Valentina Pivnenko, Chief Federal Inspector in the Republic of Karelia Alexander Hynninen, Head of the Administration of Kondopoga metropolitan region Valery Bessonov, Director General of Kondopoga, Inc. Vladimir Bibilov, and other officials have taken part in the startup ceremony.

The entire production cycle of the plant from fuel burners to the central control desk was demonstrated to the guests. Then Yuri Kancher and Vladimir Bibilov have pressed the start-up button, and the temperature of boilers started to rise.

The gas-burning thermal power plant of Kondopoga, Inc. with a capacity of 45 megawatt is fully-automatic. Operators of one the most advanced software and hardware complex established there keep the boiler's load and capacity under steady watch.

The project that costed more than three billion roubles did not always proceed smoothly. Construction of the thermal power plant started in 2007, then in the context of the global financial crisis it was suspended for a year, and in 2010 an opportunity presented to continue the undertaking. The necessary funds were assigned thanks to cooperation between the Government of Karelia and JSC VTB Bank Branch in the Northwest.

Upon commissioning of the new thermal power plant, Vladimir Bibilov mentioned, the enterprise gains the opportunity to buy less electric power in the wholesale market. In turn, it will allow to cut down production expenses essentially. Benefit of the new thermal power plant will make 500 million roubles annually.

Besides, new technologies have allowed the enterprise to desist from the use of coal. The former coal-fired boiler-house of Kondopoga, Inc. conflicted with the ecostandard. Now the enterprise will reduce emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere several times.

Commissioning of the thermal power plant will allow to combine increase of the enterprise's own security of energy supply and to supply the town's demand for heating completely.