Lithuania’s two biggest cities, Vilnius and Kaunas, are turning on central heating this week.
In the Lithuanian capital, municipal heating will be switched on gradually starting with Fabijoniskes, Seskine, Pilaite, Senamiestis, Snipiskes, Karoliniskes, Lazdynai, Naujoji Vilnia, Baltupiai and Grigiskes on Monday and Tuesday.
From Tuesday, central heating will be switched on in the districts of Antakalnis, Zirmunai, Pasilaiciai, Virsuliskes, Justiniskes, Zverynas, Naujamiestis, and Kirtimai, and from Wednesday and Thursday – in the districts of Paneriai, Naujininkai, Rasos, Vilkpede and Verkiai.
In addition to biofuel, Vilnius will be using low-sulfur fuel oil for heating this year. Despite it being more polluting, senior officials of Vilnius Municipality earlier said that this measure would help keep households’ heating bills at last year’s level and projected that a monthly heating bill for a 50-square-metre apartment in a renovated and a non-renovated block of flats might reach 33 euros and 55 euros, respectively, on average.
Meanwhile, Kaunas Municipality claims that households in Lithuania’s second-largest city will be paying up to one-fifth less for heating, compared to average bills across the country.
Panevezys and Siauliai started supplying district heating to households in the beginning of last week.
Meanwhile, Klaipeda will kick off the heating season later due to higher temperatures and the local authority of the port city yet has to make decisions on the issue. (LRT/Business World Magazine)