System tool: Tatarstan discussed how to achieve housing and communal services modernization targets

The target rate of replacement of municipal infrastructure in Russia by 2030 is 5% annually. This is almost five times higher than it was from 2016 to 2023, when the average did not reach even 1%. Accumulated depreciation of funds, low resource efficiency and limited budgets lead to the fact that the housing and communal services industry requires fundamentally new approaches to modernization rather than spot repairs. Using the example of the Republic of Tatarstan, industry participants discussed ways to form a technical policy for housing and communal services. The conclusions reached by the experts can be found in the Izvestia article.

Where to look for efficiency reserves

An industry seminar held in Kazan with the support of the Ministry of Construction of the Republic of Tatarstan was devoted to the discussion of such solutions. The initiative to organize such an industry meeting belongs to the President of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, and it was thanks to his instructions that it was possible to gather almost the entire range of market players — from suppliers of raw materials to experts in operation. The meeting resulted in confirmation of the need to implement an integrated approach, a system tool that allows, with the same amount of funding, to accelerate the pace of network renewal and improve the efficiency of industry management.

According to experts, modern polymer solutions are becoming a key element of an integrated approach. Unlike traditional materials, they make it possible to design systems with minimal lifecycle cost. Pipes and fittings last up to a hundred years, accidents and energy consumption are reduced, and the use of such products as part of complex projects gives maximum effect.

According to the seminar participants, one of the main reserves for improving the efficiency of the housing and communal services complex is related to optimizing network parameters. For more than 20 years, there has been a steady downward trend in pipeline consumption and loading in Russia. This means that some of the networks are actually operating "with a margin" and require a review of technical solutions. The correct selection of diameters makes it possible, with the same budgets, to modernize more kilometers of networks, as well as reduce operating costs by increasing the energy efficiency of pumping stations.

The economics of an integrated approach

Ilya Dolmatov, Director of the Institute of Economics and Regulation of Infrastructure Industries at the National Research University of Higher School of Economics, noted that it is on the example of polymer technologies that one can see the real economy of an integrated approach. For example, optimizing the pipe diameter at the Kamskie Polyany water pipeline (replacing a steel pipe with a diameter of 500 mm with a polymer pipe with a diameter of 300 mm) would allow upgrading 7.25 km instead of 4.1 km with the same budget. An analysis of the backbone networks in Mendeleevsk showed a similar result: adjusting the diameters would make it possible to increase the length of the replacement by 60% — from 9.95 to 16 km with constant funding.

These calculations are also confirmed in practice. Pilot projects implemented in Tatarstan jointly with SIBUR, KGASU and the National Research University of Higher School of Economics have demonstrated that the integrated use of polymer solutions can significantly accelerate the renovation of municipal infrastructure. According to the study, the modernization of networks using polymers ensures not only an increase in the rate of replacement, but also a more rational use of federal and regional budget funds.

Building on this experience, SIBUR representatives presented new polymer brands and engineering solutions. According to their estimates, they are able to reduce the capital costs of network modernization by up to 30%, and operating costs by up to 20%. At the same time, due to the high reliability and lower maintenance cost of polymer pipes, the rate of replacement of water supply networks can increase by 35% relative to current figures.

The logical continuation of the discussion was the topic of a single contour of solutions. The participants noted that pipes, fittings and wells should be made of homogeneous materials. This approach ensures system consistency, increases its energy efficiency, and greatly simplifies operation throughout its life cycle.

From pilots to methodology

The seminar participants emphasized that individual elements of an integrated approach can be integrated into the work of resource supply organizations today. This concerns the choice of solutions with a minimum life cycle cost, optimization of pipeline diameters and comprehensive replacement of network sections along with equipment and shaped products made of homogeneous materials. This approach not only reduces operating and repair costs, but also ensures system reliability for decades to come.

The role of regions in shaping the technical policy of housing and communal services was widely discussed at the webinar. Experts noted that it is the subjects of the federation that are able to set uniform rules for managing the property complex, from design to operation. There are already examples: for example, in St. Petersburg there is a regional methodological document (RMD) that establishes uniform requirements.

Airat Gallyamov, Head of the Department of Operation and Implementation of Housing and Communal Services Programs at the Ministry of Construction of the Republic of Tatarstan, noted that the results of the pilot projects confirmed the effectiveness of the integrated approach. At the same time, he stressed that large—scale projects require significant resources, so it is impossible to completely replace the networks in all settlements of the republic at once - we have to solve the most acute problems point-by-point. Nevertheless, according to him, a strategic decision has already been made: Tatarstan is working on the creation of a regional methodological document for water utilities, and the ministry is ready to lead this process.

In Tatarstan, it has been proposed to develop a similar RMD for the republic's water utilities. According to the seminar participants, this will make it possible to build unified approaches to investment programs, increase investment efficiency and accelerate the implementation of modern solutions. It is planned to collect feedback from industry organizations and determine the directions of research work in cooperation with the Ministry of Construction of the Republic of Tatarstan and leading scientific centers. Such a document can become the basis for a systematic replication of an integrated approach and serve as a model for other regions of the country.

The panelists agreed that such a lively and open dialogue between all market players in the region — from producers of raw materials to operating organizations — makes it possible to identify weaknesses and turn them into growth points. Joint work on them becomes the key to more effective management of the entire industry.