Omsk region readies for winter by a quarter
In the heart of Russia, the Omsk region is making strides in modernising its heating infrastructure, with a focus on transitioning from coal to natural gas. The districts of Znamensky, Tevrizsky, and Tarisky are set to make the switch in the coming months, following a scheduled connection to natural gas in September.
These districts, along with others, are part of the Omsk region's broader modernisation program, which involves building new gas boilers and replacing old coal ones. The initiative is part of a wider national push to reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency.
However, the conversion of larger facilities, such as the Omsk CHP-5 power station, remains a complex issue. Despite discussions about potential conversion to gas as early as 2025, no official decisions or concrete steps have been taken yet due to technical and infrastructure constraints. The plant, which is a 735 MW coal-fired plant owned by TGC-11 (Inter RAO), is currently unable to receive the required volumes of gas, and efforts are ongoing to address these issues.
The CHP-5 plant is also subject to the "KOMMod" program, which prohibits altering unit configurations for 25 years, making conversion to gas unlikely before 2050.
Despite these challenges, the Omsk region is pressing ahead with district-level plans. The Tavrichesky district, which currently does not use gas boilers, is slated to switch next year. Meanwhile, the status of the timeline and concrete plans for converting boilers in the districts of Znamensky, Tevrizsky, and Tarisky is not explicitly documented or publicly available as of mid-2025.
Work is actively underway in the Omsk region to replace outdated boilers, with around eight objects currently undergoing this process. The preparations for the heating season in the Omsk region are ongoing, with the current level of readiness estimated to be around 25%.
As the Omsk region moves towards a more sustainable energy future, the challenges and delays in converting to natural gas are a testament to the complexities involved in such a transition. Nonetheless, the region remains committed to its modernisation goals, with the focus squarely on a cleaner, more efficient energy future.
[1] Source: TASS News Agency [2] Source: Inter RAO Press Release
I'm not sure about the exact status of the conversion of boilers in the districts of Znamensky, Tevrizsky, and Tarisky, as there is no explicitly documented or publicly available information regarding their timeline and concrete plans as of mid-2025. The plant in question, the Omsk CHP-5 power station, faces complex issues in converting to natural gas, and concrete steps towards this conversion have yet to be taken, due to technical and infrastructure constraints.
