MINSK, 29 January (BelTA) – The presentation of the project to automate the metering system for consumed heat and water in Belarus' Chausy was attended by Head of the European Union's Delegation to Belarus Dirk Schuebel on 29 January, BelTA learned from the EU Delegation to Belarus.
The project was implemented by the Chausy District Executive Committee in partnership with Chausy Zhylkomkhoz, Mogilev environmental public association ENDO with the financial support of the European Union. A system was developed to automate and handle housing utilities facilities in the city. The system has united more than 50 facilities, including sewerage and pumping stations, municipal treatment facilities, individual heating units and boiler houses. Automation of the metering process saves both energy and money.
The introduction of the system is one of many steps to be taken in Chausy after joining the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy initiative. With the EU support, plans are in place to work out an action plan for sustainable energy and climate development of the city. These are the measures to improve energy efficiency, including the introduction of an automated system for commercial metering of electricity supply, the development of an automatic system for regulating heating and hot water supply, automatic management of the city sewage pumping station and treatment facilities, and partial replacement of the sewer pipe.
Apart from Dirk Schuebel, the event was attended by Berend de Groot, Head of the EU Cooperation Program for the Republic of Belarus, representatives of the EU program "Covenant of Mayors Demonstration Projects" (CoM-DeP), and also ambassadors from Poland, Estonia and Romania.
“The European Union will always support initiative people. The project implemented in Chausy testifies to the fact. It is beneficial for the ecosystem of Belarus and Europe in general. Today the EU is happy to support initiatives to develop a green economy aimed at combating climate change and reducing energy consumption. We are confident that many projects will be implemented in Belarus in the coming years, including with the fruitful cooperation of the EU and local authorities,” Dirk Schuebel said.
According to Chairman of the Chausy District Executive Committee Aleksandr Yefimchikov, all work was carried out in compliance with modern European standards and energy efficiency technologies. Continuous technical supervision was provided by the EU experts. Both economic and environmental benefits are already visible. The reduction of energy consumption at some facilities has already made up 20%, said the chairman of the Chausy District Executive Committee.
The residents of Chausy are actively involved in the effort for energy conservation and rational use of resources.
More than 40 Belarusian cities (over 7,000 cities worldwide) have already joined the international environmental initiative Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy. By signing the agreement, local authorities undertake voluntary commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 30% by 2030 on their territory.
Photos by Oleg Foinitsky
