During the harsh years of the Great Patriotic War, in difficult working conditions, station workers bravely completed the tasks assigned to them and generated electrical energy for the needs of the city and industrial enterprises. Considering that at that time there were plants and factories in the city that produced products for the front, the merit of the station made to achieve victory is very significant.

At that time, the station was located on the outskirts of the city and in order not to be late for the morning shift, workers had to spend the night after the day shift in the workshops, since there were problems with transport. At that time, there was no hydro-ash removal, and transportation of burnt coal ash was organized using horse buckles. Due to the intensity of production, it was necessary to transport uncooled ash, which in turn burned horses more than once; people needed to take care of horses and at the same time it was impossible to stop the production cycle.

For the first time, heat was released from the Alma-Ata CHPP in the fourth quarter of 1961.

In the 60s and 70s, the expansion of CHPP-1 was carried out with the installation and launch of the main equipment operating at high parameters, which is still in operation. 6 power boilers, 3 steam turbines and 7 hot water boilers were put into operation. This made it possible to increase the installed electrical capacity of the station to 145 MW and thermal capacity to 1203 Gcal/hour. In accordance with the letter of the USSR State Planning Committee No. 12-342 dated March 23, 1965, Karaganda coal (for power boilers) and fuel oil (for hot water boilers) are accepted as fuel for power boilers. At the same time, it is planned to use seasonal surpluses of natural gas from the Bukhar-Khiva fields.

At the end of the 60s, according to the project of the Alma-Ata division of GSPI “Promenergoproekt”, power boilers No. 7-13 and hot water boilers No. 1-4, which were in operation in 1968-1972, installed and connected to city hydraulic distribution networks. The first volume of natural gas at the station began to be burned in February 1971.

Since this period, three types of fuel have been used at CHPP-1. Coal from the Karaganda basin is accepted as the main type of fuel for power boilers; fuel oil is used as kindling fuel and, if necessary, to illuminate the torch.

Gas was used in power boilers during the non-heating period, when excess natural gas was burned. For hot water boilers, fuel oil and gas were used as the main fuel.

In the early 80s, the project “Reconstruction of hydraulic fracturing on the gas pipeline GDS-2 – Alma-Ata CHPP-1” was developed and implemented. In connection with the increase in pressure to GDS-2, the reconstructed GDS of Alma-Ata CHPP-1 ensures the ability to operate all equipment using natural gas at nominal parameters.

In accordance with the “Comprehensive Action Plan for Improving the Condition of Atmospheric Air in Almaty for 2016-2017”, approved by the Akim of Almaty on January 18, 2016, from July 1, 2017, year-round operation of CHPP-1 using natural gas combustion was established.

In June 2017, an independent energy examination was carried out to change the type of main and reserve fuel at CHPP-1, according to which natural gas was determined as the main fuel type, and fuel oil as the reserve fuel. Based on the conclusion of the examination (No. 14-01-03/949-I dated 06/08/2017), as well as on the recommendation of the Maslikhat of Almaty (Resolution No. 34 dated 07/27/2017), a change in the main type of fuel of CHPP-1 was agreed upon Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan (No. 14-02-05/16316 dated 08/15/2017). Currently, CHPP-1 operates 100% on natural gas, with fuel oil used as a backup fuel.

In 2010-2012 The projects “Construction of the connecting heating main of CHPP-2 and CHPP-1 with a pumping station in Almaty” and “Reconstruction of CHPP-1 to receive heat from CHPP-2 in Almaty” were implemented. The implementation of these projects made it possible to reduce the load on CHPP-1, located in the city center, which plays an important role in the environmental aspect of the city.

Currently, the process of developing a feasibility study (feasibility study) for the expansion of CHPP-1 with an increase in power to 200-250 MW using a steam-gas plant (CCG) is underway.

It is worth noting that the hallmark of CHPP-1 is the technology of generating electrical energy using full heat consumption. There is no heat loss at the station in the cold source. Which in turn affects the efficiency of fuel use, which reaches 85-86%. This means that 85-86% of the heat of burned fuel is converted into useful energy. The specific consumption of equivalent fuel for the supply of products is considered one of the lowest among the CIS countries.

The staff of CHPP-1 looks to the future of the station with confidence and optimism. The planned modernization of the station will allow the station to be re-equipped with main and auxiliary equipment using the best available technologies available today. This is to improve the reliability and efficiency of the station, which will allow us to continue supplying such important heat and electricity products to our beloved city of Almaty.