As for the old city districts and the northern part of Qingdao that have no access to central heating service, the Qingdao Municipal Engineering and Public Utility Bureau announced recently that it will supply heat to 11 million more square meters of re sidential areas. 52% of the residents will then be able to have heating in their houses.

　　This initiative seeks to narrow the gap between the northern and the southern parts of the city. The Phase II of the power plant has finished installing pipelines and the Kaiyuan Houhai Power Plant, the East Lichang Power Plant will soon be put into use. These projects are able to ensure 11 million square meters of housing with heating. Most of the Shinan and Shibei districts and part of the Sifang and Licang districts will be supplied with heating when winter comes. With 73% of the housing being able to have access to heating supply by the year 2010, the problem of heat supply will ultimately be solved.