Heat and hot water supplier AB Vilnius heat networks (VŠT), which operates the longest heat supply network in Lithuania, has begun one of the largest pipeline renovation works in history. In various parts of the capital, just over 10 km of pipelines that transport heat to customers' homes will be replaced before the start of the heating season. Residents will experience temporary inconvenience during the work, so patience and understanding are requested.
District heating reaches customers' homes through an underground pipeline network, which currently stretches 770 km in Vilnius. A third of this network is worn out, so VŠT consistently invests in its renewal every year and reconstructs pipelines where they are most needed.
"One of our strategic goals is a reliable and efficient heat supply network, which is why we invest in its renewal every year. After the heating season ends, we perform thorough diagnostics on the network sections and assess where the network is most worn out. We start work first where the condition is the worst. This year, we will invest more than 12 million euros in the renewal of the network," says Andrius Agintas, Head of the VŠT Infrastructure Team.
Will cover the territories of as many as 7 neighborhoods
The reconstruction works will cover the territories of Antakalnis, Šnipiškės, Naujoji Vilnia, Žirmūnai, Naujamiestis, Pašilaičiai, and Vilkpėdė neighborhoods. In the latter areas, the pipelines were built fifty years or more ago, so their reliability has decreased over that time, causing greater heat losses and a higher risk of failures.
"The new generation of pipelines has better thermal insulation, which makes them more efficient, requires less maintenance, and has fault monitoring systems that make it easier to identify pipeline damage or defects. By renewing the pipelines, we will ensure that the services we provide will reach our customers reliably and without problems," says A. Agintas.
Temporary inconvenience awaits
According to the company, the work being carried out is complex, and will involve work on city streets, in the courtyards of apartment buildings, and in the basements of houses, so cooperation between residents and businesses is extremely important. During the work, traffic restrictions, a temporary reduction in parking spaces in courtyards, and temporary hot water disconnections are possible.
"Temporary inconveniences are inevitable when updating any infrastructure, so dialogue with residents is extremely important to us. For this reason, where we have already started work, we met with residents and representatives of neighborhoods, and explained in detail about the upcoming inconveniences and ways to reduce them. We are pleased that Vilnius residents are active and understand the need to update the infrastructure of important services, and are getting involved in a process that is important to everyone," says Rūta Jasiulionienė, Head of the VŠT Client Team.
According to the company representative, although temporary pipelines are being built and two mobile boiler rooms are being used to reduce the duration of hot water outages, temporary hot water outages are necessary at certain stages when replacing pipelines. The duration of hot water outages at one time can reach up to 5 days. The company will inform residents about this by e-mail and SMS messages.
