OREANDA-NEWS  On 12 November was announced, that the thermal stations of the Baikal region stored up 3.4 million tons of coal in expectation of cold season. This is 1.2 million tons more than in the previous year (the standard minimum approved by the Ministry for the Power Generating Industry of the Russian Federation is 1.8 million tons). According to the information provided today by the ITAR-TASS reporter in the Irkutskenergo' management, "the stocks were increased in expectation of cold winter thath is maximal peak loadings".

All planned repairs of the equipment and thermal networks were also executed. In particular, capital re-equipment was performed at 14 boilers and 12 turbines; 39.5 kilometers of pipes were replaced. The regional center put into operation a new heat main of nine kilometers with a transition through the Angara river; the expenses for these measures were RUR 1.3 billion.

"At the same time preparation for winter was not so disciplined as we wanted to," Irkutskenergo's representatives noted. "The reason for that is technical unreadiness of many municipal objects and debts of local administrations for rendered services on heat. For example, by the beginning of the cold season, only two percent of facilities of the housing and utilities infrastructure were accepted in operation the cities of Zheleznogorsk-Ilimsky and Usolie-Sibirskoe".