Discipline within – order at work
The story of Evgenyi Krasnoshchekov, an engineer responsible for the operation and maintenance
of equipment at the Cascade HPP
Sometimes, our path is chosen for us long before we make a conscious decision. Evgenyi Krasnoshchekov admits that becoming an energy engineer was a matter of fate. His great-grandfathers worked at the Cascade HPP, and although he himself had no plans to follow in their footsteps, he ended up in the same industry. Today, looking back on 11 years in the profession, Evgenyi has no doubt that he made the right choice.
“On my first day, I was warmly welcomed by the team. At the time, I didn’t know that a new important chapter in my life had begun. Everything I know today is thanks to the people I met,’ says Evgeny. Among them are S.V. Vinitsky, S.V. Kiselev, T.F. Nesterenko, and S.F. Popov, A.M. Ermurzayev, and T.K. Kochkinbayev – mentors, teachers, and role models.
He calls the Cascade Hydroelectric Power Plant his second family. Everyone is respected here: from the chief engineer to the ordinary mechanic. ‘Coming to Cascade means becoming part of something big and real. It’s impossible not to fall in love with it.’
He started as a relay protection engineer, then moved to metrology, and then to the operational service. Today, he is a repair engineer in the ESO group. He has years of practice and experience in emergency situations behind him. Perhaps one of the most stressful moments in his career was the accident on 5 March 2021, when Cascade separated from the power system and all nine stations shut down. Evgeny was on duty. The restoration took almost a day, but the team managed to get all nine stations back up and running. ‘Then the chief engineer, T.K. Kochkinbayev, personally came to us at the main switchboard. It was both a test and a powerful support.’
“In the energy sector, the main thing is discipline and safety. Not only equipment but also people’s lives depend on it. Our families are waiting for us at home. This means it is important to follow safety rules, emphasizes Evgenyi.
I work with my head, but also with my heart. When you repair a unit, check it, start it up, and everything works perfectly, it is a real satisfaction. The most important thing is accident-free operation.
Evgeny is also active in sports, participating in basketball competitions for the Cascade and AlES teams. He says that sport brings people together, gives energy, and helps to make friends in other departments.
In life, Evgenyi is a man of principle. He is straightforward, determined, and does not like ‘detours.’ Everything must be honest and to the point. He values mornings with physical exercise, a precise daily routine, reading the classics, especially Bulgakov and Mayakovskyi… Sometimes he writes poetry – for his soul, depending on his mood.
He is inspired by his family. His beloved daughter and mother await him at home. “My mother is the most important person in my life. She loves unconditionally, always supports me, and believes in me without question,” says Evgenyi. And recently, when asked at kindergarten what her father does for a living, his daughter replied, “My dad is a venergretic! ’So we’re not just energy workers. We’re venergretics,” smiles Evgenyi.
“If I could go back, I wouldn’t change a thing. I am grateful to the energy industry, my team, and the people who helped me grow. I dream of becoming a chief engineer. For now, I’m just doing my job conscientiously. Because that’s the only way I know how – anything else isn’t me.”
Look at video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEC9y_05Vvo