The heating season in Mykolaiv may begin in early November

Preparations for the heating season are being finalised in Mykolaiv. Heat supply companies plan to be ready to switch on the heating after 20 October, although it is expected that heating in the city may begin around 1 November.

This was discussed on 5 October during a staff meeting at Mykolaiv City Council, according to NikVesti.

Mykola Lohvinov, director of the municipal enterprise «Mykolaivobltheploenergo», reported that the company’s boiler houses are already prepared for winter and repairs to the heating networks have been completed.

«As of today, all of the company’s boiler houses are ready for the start of the heating season, and the networks have been repaired,» said Mykola Lohvinov.

Separately, the company is preparing individual heating units. In the Korabelnyi district, 139 sets of equipment have already been installed, and work is also being finalised in the Inhulskyi and Central districts. In the event of prolonged power cuts, «Mykolaivoblteploenergo» has over 320 generators. These are planned to be used to power the individual heating units.

According to Mykola Lohvinov, the company is also continuing to purchase diesel fuel. According to regulations, the stock should be sufficient for at least 14 days of full operation. This requires around 100 tonnes of diesel, which will be stored at various locations across the city.

However, «Mykolaivoblteploenergo» continues to face financial difficulties. Mykola Lohvinov reported that, since 10 September, there have been problems with making payments via the Treasury. Another problem is the unreimbursed tariff differential, which, he said, exceeds 1.4 billion hryvnias.

Furthermore, there remains a risk of accounts being frozen due to debts. Last week, the company signed an agreement with «Naftogaz of Ukraine». It provides for a 38-month instalment plan.

«In principle, the company is ready and will be ready by any date. There are issues, however. The first is the Treasury: payments have not been going through since 10 September. The second is the difference in tariffs. As of today, this amounts to more than 1.4 billion hryvnias; this money has not been received. And the third is the constant threat of accounts being frozen,» said Mykola Lohvinov.

Separately, the readiness of residential buildings was discussed during the meeting. According to Mykola Lohvinov, the situation here is more complicated. Management companies and homeowners’ associations are still carrying out hydraulic tests, but not all of them are flushing the internal building systems.

«Whilst everyone is still carrying out the hydraulic tests, for some reason they are reluctant to flush the systems. And this affects, first and foremost, the service and the hydraulics of the system,» he explained.

Mykola Lohvinov added that, as a result, the heat supply company is using more water than necessary, and residents may receive a lower-quality service.

During the meeting, a report was also given on the preparations at the Mykolaiv Central Heating and Power Plant (CHPP). Roman Shkoda, the company’s deputy technical director, reported that the boiler and pumping equipment had already been inspected and prepared for operation. The thermal power station’s overall readiness currently stands at 87.6 per cent.

«At the Mykolaiv Thermal Power Station, the boiler equipment is fully prepared for the heating season. All the pumping equipment has been checked and is also ready for the heating season,» said Roman Shkoda.

The CHP plant’s own teams have replaced around three kilometres of heating networks, which equates to approximately four kilometres of pipework.

Work is still ongoing in several areas. These include Bohoiavlenskyi Avenue between Kuznetska and Avanhardna Streets, as well as Pohranychna Street in the area of the Emergency Hospital and Mariupolska Street. Work on the networks is scheduled to be completed by 15 October, after which the company will move on to landscaping the areas.

According to a representative of the CHPP, the company will be ready to start the heating system by 20 October.

During the meeting, Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych reminded those present that the exact start date of the heating season depends on the air temperature.

«We switch on the heating when the average daily temperature in Mykolaiv is eight degrees or less for three consecutive days,» said Oleksandr Sienkevych.

He also asked the heating company representatives when, according to current forecasts, it might become necessary to supply heat.

Mykola Lohvinov replied that, according to the long-term forecast, this could theoretically happen as early as 20 October. However, as weather forecasts are subject to change, they are currently aiming for around the beginning of November.

Read also the article on NikVesti: «Winter on backup power. Will Mykolaiv have enough heat and water during power cuts?».