OREANDA-NEWS. On July, 19 gas distribution network development in four regions of Karelia along the coast of Lake Ladoga was launched in Olonets. The first seam on the gas main that will bring natural gas first to regions of Olonets and Pitkarants, and then will be connected to another gas main to be constructed in regions of Lahdenpohja and Sortavala was welded at the new gas-burning boiler house in the center of the town.

Head of Karelia Alexander Khudilainen, Vice-Chairman of the Legislative Assembley of Karelia Nikolai Makarov, Chief Federal Inspector in the Republic of Karelia Alexander Hynninen, Director General of Gazprom Gazoraspredelenie OJSC and Peterburgteploenergo Ltd. Sergey Gustov, Deputy Head of the GR Department of Gazprom OJSC Vladimir Shemyakin, representatives of building companies, the administration of Olonets region took part in the celebration. The Leningrad region Legislative Assembley Chairman Sergei Bebenin also came to congratulate citizens of the neighbouring region.

Head of Karelia Alexander Khudilainen has called the date of July 19, 2013 a milestone in history of Karelia.

We witness the event which will have deep consequences for development of Karelia. Today we receive not only the first of 69 boiler-houses to be constructed in the years immediately ahead according to the agreement with Gazprom, we obtain prospects of gas distribution network development in our settlements, as well as new living standards, - Alexander Khudilainen said.

Head of the republic has informed that implementation of the project became possible thanks to decisions of the President of Russia Vladimir Putin, who has supported the idea of gas distribution network development as it radically changes life in the region and enhances its economic prospects.

Construction of gas mains, new boiler-houses, replacement of thermal networks is carried out within the scope of the program of gas distribution network development in regions of Russia implemented by Gazprom OJSC and its branches. In the years immediately ahead in Karelia it is planned to build four gas pipeline branches of main gaslines and gas distribution stations, 14 gas mains between settlements. Within the scope of the program due to budgets of different levels 500 km of distributive networks of gas main to 75 settlements in regions of North Ladoga lakeside will be constructed, that will allow to install natural gas service for about 17 thousand apartments and households, to construct 69 gas-burning boiler-houses.

In Olonets region solely in 2013-2014 it will be constructed 19 natural gas-burning boiler-houses, more than 70 kilometers of thermal networks will be replaced.

Total amount of investments of Gazprom OJSC in construction of objects of gas distribution network development in regions of Karelia, including North Ladoga lakeside, by 2015 will make 8,8 billion roubles.

Director General of Gazprom Gazoraspredelenie OJSC and Peterburgteploenergo Ltd. Sergey Gustov in his statement has confirmed that natural gas will be supplied to boiler-houses built today in Olonets region by the end of this year. The cold season will begin at a stated time, and upon submission of gas power engineering specialists will the new equipment put into operation.

Deputy Head of the GR Department of Gazprom OJSC Vladimir Shemyakin has made a special mention of great teamwork which the company has managed to establish with the Government of Karelia.

Thanks to Alexander Khudilainen’s personal commitment we have achieved serious acceleration in cooperation between Gazprom and Karelia. Other projects of the gas company in the republic are discussed, - the representative of Gazprom OJSC added.

Head of the administration of Olonets region Olga Tervo in her speech has also thanked the Government of the republic and has told about the prospects which Olonets will have when natural gas comes there.

Two years ago the citizens of Olonets doubted whether natural gas will be distributed to the region. Now looking at the new boiler-house, observing the works accomplished in the region to build thermal networks, there’s no doubt today that Olonets region will be provided with gas this year, - Olga Tervo said.

The culmination of the celebration in Olonets became welding of the symbolical first seam of the gas main which was accomplished personally by Head of Karelia Alexander Khudilainen.

The visitors have also examined the new boiler-house. Provided with gas it will secure sustainable heat supply of nearby houses, kindergarten, children’s sports school and office buildings. All the operations there are automated, not a single person will work in the boiler-house, and in case of blackouts there’s a diesel engine-generator. In comparison with the operating coal-burning boiler-house, the new one will emit 95 times less harmful substances.

Answering the journalists’ questions, Sergey Gustov and Alexander Khudilainen observed that upon commissioning new boiler-houses the cost of thermal energy will remain the same, however, fuel purchase expenses of budgets will be reduced considerably, that will allow to assign the released funds for solution of other problems in regions of North Ladoga lakeside: accomplishment, repair of roads, toilettage of social institutions.

It is necessary to add, that within the scope of the program Gazprom to Children the gas company has incurred obligations on construction of athletic fields in all regions of Karelia. Head of the republic and other participants of the ceremony have visited such sports ground constructed in Olonets.