-This will be the most powerful coal boiler in the Kola Peninsula, Deputy Speaker in the State Duma Valerii Yazev said during a visit to Monchegorsk this week. The construction of the boiler, which will have a capacity of more than 300 MW, is due to be completed in 2013.
The first part of construction has already started, Oilru.com reports.
The coal-fuelled boiled will help reduce local dependency on the more expensive and less environmentally friendly heating oil. It is expected to lead to a reduction also in local heating tariffs.
-We have lots of coal in the region, Yazev underlined in a meeting with local authorities and the Kolskaya GMK. About ten million tons of coal is annually shipped out from the Port of Murmansk.
Read also: Expects near €4 billion net profit
Both Nikel and Zapolyarny, the two other main regional metallurgy towns of the Kolskaya GMK, are expected to get similar boilers.
Read also: New energy for Nikel
Murmansk Oblast remains among the Russian regions most dependent of heating oil. The region is not part of the national gasification network and has few coal boilers.
