The main stakeholders in the gas distribution sector (government, shareholders and consumers) have different interests and goals. The state, as a regulatory body, should find the best regulatory methods in order to achieve the maximum effect of public welfare: direct (pricing) and indirect (price influencing). The use of the “costs plus” method makes it possible to set the lowest possible tariffs for the transportation of natural gas, but it leads to the emergence of a “tariff precedent”, a loss of profits for companies, limited investment in the development of the sector. In order to stimulate the increase in the efficiency of gas distribution organizations, the implementation of the fundamental principle of gas distribution sector regulation is proposed. The use of incentive regulation will help find a balance in setting prices for gas networks in order to cover the costs of companies, increase profitability, stimulate the development of networks and innovations, establish the optimal price for consumers.

The article is devoted to the analysis of the composition and properties of the materials and liquids during transportation using pipeline and shows that in order to increase the efficiency of hydraulic transport systems in mining a transition to the transportation of slurries with a high concentration of solids in the slurry flow is necessary. Experimental studies have shown that slurry tailings of gold-containing ore with mass concentrations of more than 55 % are viscoplastic fluids. Experiments on a rotational viscometer allowed us to establish the main rheological characteristics of the studied slurries – shear stress and the dynamic effective viscosity. It has been established that over the entire range of concentrations from 55 to 65 %, the flow of slurries is described by the Bingham rheological equation. Experimental studies of hydraulic transport performed on a laboratory setup with a pipeline diameter of 50 mm confirmed the results obtained on a rotational viscometer. The curved of mixture stream is inclined straight lines that are cut off on the axis of the head in the sections, which determine the initial hydraulic slope corresponding to the yield shear stress on the rheological curves. According to the results of the experiments, a method has been developed for calculating the hydraulic transport of high concentrated slurries of tailings of gold-bearing ore. Calculations showed that in a given range the performance of the hydrotransport system and the mass concentration of the solid phase pressure losses vary from 11 to 84 m of water column/m. Head loss values increase with the increasing concentration. A sharp increase in the head loss occurs in the concentration range from 60 to 65 % and higher.

Grinding is the most energy-intensive process among all stages of raw material preparation and determines the course of subsequent ore beneficiation stages. Level of electricity consumption is determined in accordance with load characteristics forming as a result of ore destruction in the mill. Mill drum speed is one of process variables due to which it is possible to control ore destruction mechanisms when choosing speed operation mode of adjustable electric mill drive. This study on increasing energy efficiency due to using mill electric drive is based on integrated modelling of process equipment – grinding process and electromechanic equipment – electric drive of grinding process. Evaluating load torque by means of its decomposition into a spectrum, mill condition is identified by changing signs of frequency components of torque spectrum; and when studying electromagnetic torque of electric drive, grinding process is monitored. Evaluation and selection of efficient operation mode of electric drive is based on the obtained spectrum of electromagnetic torque. Research results showed that with increasing mill drum speed – increasing impact energy, load torque values are comparable for the assigned simulation parameters. From the spectra obtained, it is possible to identify mill load condition – speed and fill level. This approach allows evaluating the impact of changes in process variables of grinding process on parameters of electromechanical system. Changing speed operation mode will increase grinding productivity by reducing the time of ore grinding and will not lead to growth of energy consumption. Integration of digital models of the technological process and automated electric drive system allows forming the basis for developing integrated methods of monitoring and evaluation of energy efficiency of the entire technological chain of ore beneficiation.