OREANDA-NEWS. In December 2011, Baikalenergo started providing services in the utilities sector in Sayanogorsk (the Republic of Khakassia), having signed a lease agreement on utility facilities with the city administration and undertaking the obligation to produce heat and transmit it to the local residents and industrial enterprises. In January 2012, Sayanogorsk Heating Networks became a separate division of CJSC Baikalenergo, while the staff of the former municipal organization transferred to the business entity.

Last year, the company invested about RUB 20 mln in repairing heating networks alone. For instance, in 2012, Baikalenergo’s heating engineers carried out a major overhaul of heating networks and the water supply system. The equipment at treatment facilities was replaced, and the potable water disinfection system based on Aquachlor-500 electrochemical modules was put into operation. Over 1.5 kilometers of heating networks were replaced as the heat and water supply equipment was being prepared for smooth operation during the winter season of 2012-2013. In the villages of Cheryomushki and Maina Baikalenergo’s specialists repaired boiler equipment and partially replaced the equipment, including pumping units at water supply facilities. As a result, before the start of the heating season, each facility of Sayanogorsk Heating Networks was successfully certified. After the repairs, losses of heat in heating networks decreased. Besides, there is a downward trend in the number of pipeline failures (in 2012, it decreased by 10.4%).

On February 1, 2013, a long-term agreement on leasing the equipment of the boiler house of the Sayanogorsk aluminum smelter, the largest heat supplier providing heat for the major part of Sayanogorsk and the metal processing plant, was signed. Thus, by now, a single center providing utilities for thousands of city residents has been formed under Baikalenergo’s management. Besides, the company has integrated the heating networks and water supply systems of Sayanogorsk, Maina and Cheryomushki. The headcount of the Separate Division is over 500 employees. To improve the company’s operations, an integrated management system, a dispatcher service and a single vehicle depot have been created. The company’s motor vehicle fleet comprises 48 vehicles, including cars and trucks, tractors and special-purpose equipment. Emergency crews are provided with special-purpose and diagnostic equipment. These measures have enabled additional works at water supply and disposal systems and treatment facilities. At present, a comprehensive program for upgrading the utility systems of Sayanogorsk is being developed together with the city administration. In 2013, the company plans to replace about two kilometers of heating networks and water supply systems of approximately the same length. As part of the investment program, the most advanced equipment and special diagnostic tools for testing the networks are being acquired. In 2013, the portion of the company’s budget allocated for maintenance and repairs will total over RUB 20 mln.

Evgeny Fedorov, CEO of OJSC irkutskenergo: “Previously, the property of Sayanogorsk utility companies was controlled by various organizations. This caused difficulties, including the issues of coordination and meeting the schedules for repairs; hot water supply was shut off for a longer period of time; similarly, the renovation of facilities also took more time. The integration of facilities under Baikalenergo’s management enabled us to radically improve the quality of production, distribution and supply of heat, hot and cold water.”