CHPP-1: ten years before the century

The solemn event dedicated to the Day of the Republic and the 90th anniversary of Almaty CHPP-1 named after B.Orazbayev was held at AlES JSC. Veterans and current employees of the CHPP-1, representatives of the akimat, and numerous guests took part in the celebration. But, summing up the results of nine decades of work of the CHPP, the team today looks into the future: on the way to its centenary, the station will have to complete modernization in order to meet the modern technical, environmental and social requirements of the century.

“In the future, we see CHPP-1 as a new station. According to the developed feasibility study, a 250 MW combined cycle plant with new equipment and new technology will be built,” says Aibek Shayakhmetov, head of PTD CHPP-1. “This implies that a gas turbine, a waste heat boiler and a steam turbine will be installed. The use of this technology will increase the cycle efficiency by about 10-15%. There will be an automated process control system, high reliability and environmental friendliness will be ensured – first of all. Therefore, we chose this equipment.

The feasibility study of the project was approved in 2022. Now the project is frozen due to the ongoing large-scale modernization of CHPP-2 and CHPP-3. But we hope that after the implementation of these projects, our turn will come. We hope that we will successfully carry out the modernization of the station.”

It so symbolically coincided that the first turbine unit of the Central Power Plant – the Central Power Plant of the city of Alma-Ata was put into operation on October 25, 1935. In fact, it began the great energy of modern Almaty, which ensured the economic growth of the city and the republic as a whole, becoming an important foundation of the economy of sovereign Kazakhstan. And on October 25, 1990 – 55 years after this event – the Declaration on State Sovereignty of Kazakhstan was adopted, which was the first step towards Independence.

In honor of these two historical events, noting the merits of the CHPP-1 team to the city and the country, a large group of power engineers – current and pensioners – was awarded with awards, certificates of honor, and valuable gifts. Including: Honorary titles as “Enbegі sіngen energetik. Kazakstan ElectrikalykKauymdastygy”, “Kurmettі power engineer. Kazakhstan Electric Power Engineering”, “Certificate of Honor of Samruk-Energo JSC and Certificate of Honor of the Kazakhstan Electric Power Association”.

Among the awardees are station specialists A. M. Kuptsov, M. Kh. Sarsembaev, A. G. Shevchenko, M. I. Khairushina, S. I. Nemich, N. U. Kaptagaev, Yu. V. Milyukhin, whose work experience in the industry is from 20 to 40 years, including only at the station on 18 years.

“For me, the station is a second home, a second family, because up to 70% of the time we are at the station,” says Murat Khabrashitovich Sarsenbayev, head of the turbine shop, awarded the Certificate of Honor of Samruk-Energo JSC. “Our station is age – 90 years! But the equipment is changing gradually, becoming more and more modern. Therefore, we have a lot of young people.

Murat Khabrashitovich modestly kept silent about himself. But he has been working at the station for 39 years, has passed the production step, worked in various positions. He began his career in CHPP-1 in June 1986 as a driver of pumping units of the 5th category. The very next year, Murat Sarsembayev was transferred as the driver of the central control panel for steam turbines, and in 1992 he became the senior driver of the turbine shop. In June 2009, having mastered a number of areas, he headed the turbine workshop.

For those power engineers who have already completed their career, the anniversary of the station was a good opportunity to meet with colleagues, remember the brightest stories and events of their work on the CHPP-1, learn about the news of their native enterprise. One of the veterans is Maria Murushkina, a steam turbine operator. She worked for 38 years at the station, now on a well-deserved rest.

“I’ve been retired for 15 years. But I often dream of a station: either I start a turbine, then I go to shift, then I’m late, I run! The team often dreams, watch G.The station is an outlet for me, – Maria Alexandravna Murushkina admits. “We were at work, knew that we needed – we always had stability. When they asked me what we do at work, and I answered: we give the city light and hot water!

In 1978, he came to the station and rose to the rank of shop manager, and also worked as the station’s chief specialist in TsTAI, Alexander Sopov. Now he is a pensioner who has worked for 43 years in the CHPP-1, a respected veteran. “For all of us, the station is this life. And for the whole country, the world as a whole, energy is life, – says Alexander Fedorovich. – Life is impossible without energy. Our heart ached for the enterprise, for the state of the energy sector in the 90s. I remember that I went on watch, although I was the deputy chief for operation. Therefore, those difficult years lacked people. And those who remained worked taxis that sometimes they simply did not have enough strength. And beginners have skills and abilities. Energy is a rather complex production process. And we, the leaders went on watch to keep the station afloat. We sometimes spent the day and night at work. We restored everything on our own. Of course, specialists were also involved from outside. But the adjustment work was carried out by us independently. I had 43 people in the shop, I led them, and I was responsible for each.”

Thirty years out of 38 years of experience at the station, Lyudmila Kruchina worked as a steam turbine operator. Noting her merits, at the 90 th anniversary of the CHPP-1, she was awarded the Certificate of Honor of AlES JSC.

“When I came to the station in 1984, very good people worked there. I was a beginner, and they helped me absolutely in everything, – recalls Lyudmila Vasiliyevna. “All of them were strong people, professionals. Every day we learned something new – we learned every day. But the main thing for me was the warmth of the people – my colleagues, their smiles. I recently retired… To be honest, it was even scary – like without your favorite job, because the station for me is my life. And the anniversary of the station is a very solemn and touching day for me.”

Their friends and partners came to the celebration to the power engineers. Among them is Rasulbek Musabekov, professor of the Department of Thermal Power Plants, Almaty Institute of Energy and Communications named after O.Daukeyev. In recent years, AlES JSC has established partnerships with technical universities, realizing that they provide the influx of competent personnel. As part of cooperation with universities, AlES JSC develops dual training programs, conducts excursions and internships of specialists, lectures are given by production workers in classrooms for teachers and students. The integration of science and production is increasing, so Rasulbek Musabekov is a member of the board of directors of AlES JSC, he is a senior independent director.

“I have been working in the energy sector all my life. Energy is the basis of the national economy of any state, Rasulbek Musabekov is sure. “Every single thing has a share of energy. Without energy, the development of any industry is impossible.

That evening, many stories and declarations of love for the profession sounded – this is what unites the entire team of CHPP-1 and AlES JSC. Awarded power engineers and guests received a gift and a book “AlES. Illuminating the path of creation,” specially prepared for the 90 th anniversary of the station. It is noteworthy that most of the participants in the celebration acted as its co-authors, sharing their memories, materials, photographs. Therefore, the book has become not only a historical chronicle of urban energy, but also a chronicle of the fate of thousands of Kazakhstani power engineers of different generations. She will take her rightful place in their families, complementing the stories of veterans with facts, photographs and historical references. And the history of the Almaty energy complex will be continued with new events…