Croatia revitalizes one third of Zagreb heating network to reduce pipe bursts

HEP-Toplinarstva restored 129 kilometers of hot water pipes across 27 neighborhoods in Zagreb, Croatia, during the first two phases of a major infrastructure project.

This initiative, valued at 99 million euros, received 49.7 million euros in non-refundable funding from the European Union. The project aims to improve the city's heating infrastructure by reducing hot water pipe bursts and emergency interventions by 90 percent.

The modernization of the network is expected to lower operational water leakage by 47 percent and decrease heat losses by 28 percent. Officials stated that the project will also reduce carbon dioxide emissions into the environment. Prime Minister Andrej Plenković noted that the investment will minimize the frequency of incidents where residents lose water due to broken pipes. He also mentioned that the Croatian government continues to subsidize electricity, gas, and heating energy prices.

The company is currently executing the third phase of the project, which includes the replacement of 6.2 kilometers of routes and 12.4 kilometers of pipes this year. A fourth phase is planned between 2027 and 2030 to restore an additional 94 kilometers of piping. Minister of Economy Ante Šušnjar emphasized the role of modern heating in the green transition and expressed support for integrating modernized systems with geothermal sources, small nuclear reactors, and waste-to-energy plants.

To avoid paralyzing the city, workers are replacing the network partially and street by street. This gradual approach ensures that emergency services and police maintain access to the area. Vice Oršulić, the head of the HEP Board, explained that while the goal is to provide year-round hot water to all residents by 2030, the partial renovation process is necessary to manage traffic and city functionality.