Nurlan Zhakhan: being a man is being aware of what you are doing

If we take a look at the books, wisdom and individuals that have shaped the life philosophy of Nurlan Zhakhan, an electrician at CHPP-3, it becomes clear why he is the way he is and why he has followed the career path he is on.

“My grandfather once told me: “Be a decent person, son. Do everything with intelligence and common sense.” These words have shaped my personality and my rules for life. I interpret them to mean that I, and only I, bear the responsibility for what I do, for how my plans are carried out, for what I have achieved and will achieve in this life,” says Nurlan. When I was looking for a university to attend after graduating from school, I decided to become a power engineer. I came to this decision after reviewing various professions: as a child, I dreamed of being a constructor, at school I wanted to become a geodesist. However, I ultimately decided that I would work in the energy sector. After graduating from university, I sent my CV to all energy companies. My first job and understanding of the energy sector began in the human resources department at AlES JSC. My meeting with the head of the electrical workshop in December 2022 was important in this regard, as I got to know the station and the safety instructions. My first mentor was Alau Akhmadiyev, shift supervisor at the CHPP-1 named after Orazbayev. He clearly and thoroughly explains each task, the steps needed, and the expected result. I’m also grateful to my colleagues who helped me, a newbie, get settled in at work. It was a great professional training ground and a solid start to the profession.

While working and delving into the process, the book “Dao Toyota: 14 Management Principles from the World’s Greatest Manufacturer’ became his desk reference. Its author is Jeffrey Liker, a professor of industrial engineering at the University of Michigan. “In my opinion, this is the best book on manufacturing, providing the necessary experience and a forward-looking vision,” says Nurlan Zhakhan.

Although he is still a very young electrical engineer, he has already proven himself in his work. This is what Nurlan calls his priority: to be more responsible to himself. This is especially true in difficult situations that require quick decision-making, knowledge and professionalism. He knows that electricity requires strict adherence to safety rules. He always urges his colleagues to do the same. Fortunately, there have been no accidents in his professional career, although there have been difficult, or rather very challenging, situations.

“There have been quite a few of those moments,” says Nurlan. “I remember one of them. It was when the technical lockout of boiler 2 at CHPP-3 was being checked. At that moment, I took responsibility, even though I had very little work experience. I was only 23 years old at the time. But I inspected the boiler without any problems and coped with the task. And that was one of the few moments when I was satisfied with myself. From the point of view of modern technology, CHPP-3 is a very simple and outdated station, where you can see the ‘ancient’ equipment. But it is not always reliable; it requires more attention than new and modern equipment. Now, technical inspections and tests, maintaining equipment in good condition and conducting various checks are the basis of my work. These are my job responsibilities. I like doing electrical installation work, and I am glad that my work contributes to the production of electricity for the city. Important qualities in such work are vigilance, accuracy, knowledge, calmness and prudence in decision-making, and… kindness towards those with who you work in a team..

However, kindness is also the most important quality in life. Nurlan Zhakhan quickly and easily integrated into the team, managing to get to know all the staff right away, including through youth organizations and sports tournaments, joint celebrations of important events and dates. For example, events such as Nauryz, this is always celebrated by the entire team at AlES JSC and which brings the team together. “A shared burden is easy to bear! Don’t hesitate to invest your efforts in the energy sector,” Nurlan Zhakhan never gets tired of repeating to himself and his colleagues.

In his daily life, the most important thing for him is his family, where his undisputed authority is his father. Another authority figure for him, in terms of morals and spirituality, is Abai. In particular, his famous book-testament named “45 Black Words”; it was published under the title “Words of Edification” in Russian.

“I choose Abai to absorb our Kazakh wisdom,” Nurlan shares. “It strengthens my mind and character. It teaches me the principles of life and how to be happy. The wisdom of our ancestors provides food for thought, rules for life and new plans. I always remind myself: “Don’t let today be like yesterday! Move forward towards new goals.”

Nurlan is familiar with simple everyday joys. He has his own car, which allows him to often go out and enjoy nature. The young man is convinced that from a young age, one must take care of one’s health, not waste time, but build up energy for good deeds and tasks.

… Once upon a time, as a child, Nurlan dreamed of learning how to make ice cream. Today, he has a job he loves, and he knows how to make… ice cream – to the delight of his friends and children. But Nurlan Zhakhan’s list of goals does not end there, having achieved some, he dreams of new heights…⠀