Every year on April 28th World Day for Safety and Health at Work is celebrated. Congratulations to all employees of AlES JSC on this holiday!

Ensuring safe working conditions at every workplace has been and will always be the main priority in the activities of AlES JSC.

Vladimir Shmelev, Head of Repair Department of JSC AlES, tells about the history of AlES

 

 

– The history of JSC AlES is quite interesting. I would divide it into four periods.

It all started with the construction of the Alma-Ata Central Electric Station Station (A-CES), where one steam boiler and a 3 MW turbine unit were commissioned in 1935.

Construction of the fuel supply building of CES, 1935

The region developed further, the Great Patriotic War was underway, and more electricity was needed for industry. As a result, in 1942 the construction of a hydroelectric power station in the mountains began. It was called the Cascade of Alma-Ata НРSs. In 1944 НРSs-9, 10,11 were put into operation.

НРS-9

Until 1959, construction was underway and new units were commissioned at these power plants. In total, during this period, 7 steam boilers and 7 steam turbine units were commissioned at 1-HPP, and hydroelectric units and hydroelectric power plants from НРS-11 to НРS-1 were commissioned at the Cascade of НРSs. At the same time, on the basis of Alma-Ata CES and Cascade of НРSs in 1943, the Kazakh Regional Energy Department “Kazakhenergo” (KRED “Kazakhenergo”) was established. With the construction of these two power plants, Alma-Ata power networks were built and developed, which were also part of the KRED “Kazakhenergo”. Thus, in my opinion, the first historical period was completed. It is interesting because despite the lack of experience and technology, the young state of the USSR was selflessly building. Even in spite of the war, which affected all former republics with its devastation, the restoration and commissioning of new capacities in the energy sector, including in the Alma-Ata region, proceeded rapidly. The country needs electricity for restoration and development. It needed it like air! Look at the large-diameter water conduits of the НРS Cascade that were dug through the rocky rocks of the Zailiyskiy Alatau! And this in the absence of today’s tools and technologies.

1-HPP

Since 1960, as if the second breath of the energy sector in the Alma-Ata region was opened. The second stage of development came. On the basis of the same A-ACES, the city began to build and put into operation centralized heat supply. Since this year Alma-Ata CES has been called Heat and Power Plant No.1, i.e. Alma-Ata 1-HPP. Industry and population in Alma-Ata began to receive unheard-of benefits – heat. There was no need to look for fuel, to worry about the condition of the furnace. The heat networks under construction in the city were also on the balance sheet of KRED “Kazakhenergo”. The Alma-Ata region was developing rapidly. More and more electricity and heat was required.

During the period from 1960 to 1996, Alma-Ata 1-HPP was expanded with the commissioning of six new steam boilers, seven hot-water boilers, three turbine units. Previously built boiler units and turbine units were decommissioned and dismantled due to physical and moral deterioration. I caught the dismantling of the last units. Since 1963, KRED “Kazakhenergo” was renamed to the District Energy Department (RED “Alma-Ataenergo”). It was already Almaty energy system with its own power plants, heat networks, regional and city networks. Alma-Ata SDPP (now 3-HPP), Kapchagai НРS, Almaty 2-HPP were built and put into operation in the energy system one by one. Electric city 6/35 kV and regional power grids /110/220 kV were built and put into operation.

Installation of the Kapchagai НРS hydroelectric generator rotor

The city main heat networks with large diameter pipes up to 1000 mm were developed. In 1972, the Western District Boiler House (WDB), which previously belonged to the Almaty Cotton and Paper Mill (ACPM), became part of the heat networks of the Almaty energy system. In 1980, a repair structural subdivision of PRC “Energoremont” or PRC “ER” was established to repair heat and power equipment of heat and power sources. The second historical stage was due to the large scale of reconstruction and new construction of power sources and heat and electricity networks.

WHC

The third historical stage was the shortest in duration, but very significant. It was the period from 1996 to 2007. During this period of time there was no major development in the Almaty energy system. After the collapse of the USSR, Kazakhstan was establishing itself as an independent state. During this period, in conditions of destroyed economic ties between the former republics, it was necessary to survive on their own, to make huge efforts to maintain the equipment operability in the energy sector, including in the Almaty energy system. People working under various restrictions, including, at first, wages, lack of spare parts for repairs, stood firm and managed to prevent the shutdown of power equipment. During this historical period, the Almaty power system underwent changes in its ownership. In 1996, it was privatised by the Belgian company “Tractebel” and became known as CJSC “Almaty Power Consolidated” or CJSC “APC”. In 1998 on the basis of fuel-transport shops of CНРS a new structural subdivision CPVT was created for unloading of railway cargoes and maintenance of railway tracks. In 2000, two changes took place – ZRC became known as “Western Heat Complex”, or “WHC”, and “APK” CJSC became a part of KazTransGas CJSC until 2001. Then the company was transferred to Almaty Akimat. In 2007, there was a separation of energy sources from the general energy system and Almaty Power Plants JSC or AlES JSC was formed in the current composition: 1-HPP, 2-HPP, 3-HPP, WHC, Kapshagayskaya НРS, Cascade НРS, CPWT, PRC “Energoremont”.

And finally today’s fourth stage of existence of our energy company, which lasts since 2007, that is, since the formation of JSC “Almaty Electric Stations” or JSC “AlES”. At present, this period is marked by the fact that the period of renovation, commissioning of new capacities, reconstruction of energy sources is resumed.

1-HPP Heat reception point

Thus, a heat receiving point at 1-HPP, steam power boiler No.8 at 2-HPP, and the operation of 1-HPP was completely switched to natural gas. New construction projects are being developed at 1-HPP, 2-HPP, 3-HPP, Kapshagayskaya НРS, Cascade НРS. This historical stage will be a stage of renewals.

Boiler house of 2-HPP

Of course, each historical period of our Company can be shown more extensively, but I have tried to tell everything briefly, highlighting the main points.