BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 8. The 'Baku City's Master Plan 2040', approved by Azerbaijan's Cabinet of Ministers, contains recommendations regarding gas and heat infrastructure in accordance with the steps aimed at improving energy efficiency in the domestic system of heat and electricity production and transmission., Trend reports, referring to the plan.
"The projected gas consumption in the territory of Baku by 2040 may increase to 1.15 million cubic meters per hour from the current level of 1.05 million cubic meters per hour. Currently, there are more than 2.3 million gas consumers in Baku, but by 2040, considering the forecasted population growth in the capital (from 2.62 million people to 3.17 million people), the number of gas consumers may increase, posing new challenges," the document noted.
The master plan emphasized that the existing gas network capacity in Baku is currently 1.56 million cubic meters per hour.
Out of the total gas pipeline network in the capital, with a length of 10,919 kilometers, 2,187 kilometers of gas pipelines are underground.
Gas losses during transportation are estimated at eight percent.
Gas consumers are divided into the following groups: residential (individual households), industrial and commercial enterprises, as well as the power industry.
The gas consumption of one household is approximately 9,590 kWh per year.
According to research described in the master plan, the average gas consumption of one apartment per year at its peak is 300,000 cubic meters per hour.
"By 2040, it is recommended to adapt the gas and thermal infrastructure of Baku to new international energy efficiency standards with a simultaneous increase in the capacity of the heat and electricity transmission and distribution network," the document pointed out.
The authors expressed confidence that modern energy efficiency standards in heat supply will allow reducing gas usage, which is important for the capital due to the complexity of laying additional underground gas networks and considering the economic feasibility of reducing gas transportation through old gas pipelines in Baku.
"The construction of a new gas supply network is envisaged in the Master Plan of Baku; particularly for trunk lines, sanitary protection zones should be allocated. However, at the same time, modern energy efficiency standards will enable a reduction in gas usage, especially in heat supply," the document added as a recommendation to the responsible structures of SOCAR (State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic).
