Gulya Zhakaeva: life and soul of the CHPP-2 and the voice of the team

A story of how a child’s dream of light and warmth has turned into a story of leadership and dedication

CHPP-2 named after A.Zhakutov is not just a strategic facility, but a symbol of sustainability and innovation. Submerged for 12 meters for seismic safety, the plant has been providing the Almaty region with heat and electricity for decades, combining tradition with advanced technology. But its main strength is its people. Gulya Zhakayeva, a trade union leader, whose history is intertwined with the history of A.Zhakutov CHPP-2, is among them.

– Gulya Bazarbayevna says: “Everything here is maintained by professionals who work sincerely with their hearts. These very people, their hard work and cohesion have become a source of inspiration for her.

Gulia Zhakaeva started her career at CHPP-2 in the 2000s as an electrician for equipment repair. Her first mentor was Nurlan Taufikovich Mukhamed-Rakhimov, who taught her not only technical subtleties, but also to value the team. “He showed that power engineering is not only about circuits, but also about responsibility for those who are around you”, she recalls.

Her career is a story of perseverance. She went from being an electrician to an inspector in the Personnel Department, then to a metrology service engineer. Even maternity leave did not become an obstacle: having returned, Gulya Bazarbayevna plunged into work again, becoming the chairman of the trade union committee in 2022. “The stability of CHPP-2 has always been appealing. Here I found a balance between family and the work of life”, she confesses.

The year 2020 has become a strength test time. During the quarantine, the staff of CHPP-2, including Gulia Bazarbayevna, has ensured uninterrupted operation of the plant. “We realized: thousands of people depend on us. This has mobilized us better than any instructions,” she says. At the same time, a large-scale modernization of equipment began – a project that Gulya Zhakayeva calls “historical”.

 

As a trade union leader, Gulya Bazarbayevna deals with issues from labor safety to organizing holidays. Her principle is: “The interests of the team are above personal interests”. She is proud that she was able to unite people and create an atmosphere of trust. “The trust of my colleagues is the most valuable gift I have”, she smiles.

Her work and family are inseparable parts of Guli Zhakaeva’s life. Her parents taught her diligence, and her father’s advice – “Work so that you don’t have to justify yourself” – became her life credo. Her daughters are waiting for her at home, to whom she dreams of passing on family heirlooms: her grandfather’s stamp and her grandmother’s
jewelry. “It’s a link of generations, just like our station”, she explains.

 

 

 

 

Tips from Guli Bazarbayevna: how to set your light on:
– for power engineers: “Don’t be afraid to learn. Technologies change, but the core of responsibility remains”;
– for youth: “ Seek a profession that brings benefit to the society. Power engineering is a force that moves the world”;
– for colleagues: “Appreciate each other. Behind every kilowatt is the hard work of the team”.

“The most important thing is to strive for the goal to always have light and warmth in the houses”, – repeats Gulya Bazarbayevna. For her it is not a slogan, but the meaning of life.

Gulia Zhakaeva is the very embodiment of energetic leadership. Her story proves that even in the world of gigawatts and turbines, the most important thing is human warmth. “I do not regret any of my choices. Power engineering is my destiny”, she says. And in her eyes you can see the very light she gives to the city.