Asel ISMAGULOVA: “My motto is quality and responsibility”

To be honest, I never thought I would spend my life working in the energy sector. As a child, I dreamed of becoming a lawyer. But life led me to energy, and I have been working in this industry for 10 years now, at AlES JSC. Today, I am a process engineer in the commissioning and environmental protection department at CHPP-2. And, by and large, due to our specialisation, the work of the entire station is within our field of vision. I am happy to be doing something where my knowledge is useful.

Now everything is familiar to me at the СРPP, but when I first started working at the plant, I was surprised by its scale. Everything here was new, interesting and unfamiliar to me. At first, everything seemed huge and complicated, but thanks to my colleagues, I quickly got used to it, and now I know every corner of our laboratory and our plant.

My first mentor was Anarkul Kanlyevna Suyunova, who was the head of the laboratory at the time. She helped me through the initial adaptation period and helped me become a specialist. I started as a laboratory assistant, analyzing energy oils and emissions into the environment. Then I moved on to gas analysis, which involved determining the hydrogen content in the generator housing, monitoring leaks, and determining the humidity of hydrogen and oxygen in a stationary electrolyser.

Later, my responsibilities expanded to include the analysis of solid fuels (coal) and liquid fuels (fuel oil). The next stage in my work was to perform water analyses, carry out incoming inspections of reagents, and prepare reagents. Having become a specialist in these areas, I believe I have acquired the skills necessary for my current position. I am grateful to Elena Garikovna Kim, a true professional in her field, from whom I also learned a great deal. For me, she is an example of professionalism, kindness and humanity.

I can say that we have a very responsible job: there are no trifles in the laboratory, and the decisions that affect the entire technological process of the station depend on the accuracy of the analyses we provide. I like that our work is visible and that the analyses confirm the quality. Therefore, I can say that our motto now consists of two words: quality and responsibility.

I find my work very interesting, and I want our laboratory to become one of the best in the industry: modern, well-equipped, so that young specialists can see how important our work is and be proud of their profession.

A lot depends on who you work with, whether you can rely on your colleagues. I always say, ‘Do everything with soul and the result will surely come.’ That’s how we work: in this sense, we have an ideal team; it would be more accurate to say that we are all like a family. Here, you will always find support, help and advice. We share our experience with each other, and that is very valuable.

I see that the energy industry is becoming prestigious, and that makes me happy. When we see young people entering the industry, we are delighted that the energy industry is attracting more and more talented young people. Our profession is a real one; there are no random people here – they simply don’t stay. Each of us does our job responsibly and conscientiously, contributing to a great common cause.

Today, everyone understands that energy is the foundation, the engine of the economy. I can tell this from my children: they are interested in where I work. I am glad that they understand the importance of my work. It is very important when there is mutual understanding and respect in the family, shared values. My mother always taught me to be hard-working and honest. My family, especially my mother, is proud of me, and that means a lot to me.

For me, as for all women, true happiness consists of several components: a job I love, a friendly family, healthy children and all my loved ones. This is the key to a peaceful and harmonious personal life.

Although I have learned a lot about my profession here at the station, the pace of technological development has accelerated significantly. I am pleased to see how even a small improvement in laboratory processes affects the performance of the entire station. However, the world is changing, technology is evolving, and it is important for each of us to keep up with the times. Now I see the need for constant learning and professional development. That is why I want to study modern methods of analysis and automation of laboratory processes. These are my goals for the future.

In addition to the professional skills required to perform the job flawlessly, it is also necessary to possess a number of qualities. These include responsibility, honesty and attentiveness. Calmness and experience are also important, as they are essential in difficult situations where it is important not to rush and to think things through carefully. These are qualities that are developed not so much in universities as in the process of self-development and practical work in a team. I also have a desire to learn myself so that I can help others later. After all, our profession is fraught with risks and dangers. They are always present because we work with powerful equipment and chemical reagents. But if safety procedures are followed, the risk is minimal.

I am happy that chance brought me to AlES. Our company is the heart of Almaty’s energy sector, an enterprise with a rich history and traditions. It is a great honour to be part of this history. The people who work here are dedicated to their work and are highly skilled professionals. I wish my colleagues good health, confidence in their abilities and pride in their work. May the energy we produce always warm people, both literally and figuratively.