Three environmental projects of AlES JSC
Ecologists and mass media have inspected power engineers
Ecological aspects of work of Almaty energy complex are still under spotlight of ecologists, public and mass media. Therefore, in the midst of the heating season, the delegation, which included representatives of the Department of Ecology of Almaty, headed by its director Daniyar Alimseitov, and the press, visited the city's largest CHPP-2, which is part of AlES JSC.
The participants of the press tour were interested in the implementation of projects related to the fulfillment of environmental requirements on emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere, on utilization and recycling of ash and slag waste, and in general – the progress of modernization of Almaty CHP-2.
The Company is consistently working in this direction, solving these issues step by step, considering the capital-intensive nature protection and construction works. Over the previous years the company has done a lot of work on installation of filters (Panarin II-generation emulsifiers) on boiler units of all coal-fired CHPPs at all stations of the company. This has provided a significant reduction in the emission of solid substances (fly ash) – up to 99.3%. Currently, in order to ensure continuous environmental control, work is being finalized to equip the plants with an automatic monitoring system for emissions into the atmospheric air – ACM. The system will ensure transparency and accessibility of information on compliance with environmental requirements of AlES JSC for the state authorized body.
Installation of AFM is carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan regarding the 1 st category facilities. For this reason, an automated system for monitoring emissions into the environment should be installed at the main stationary emission sources of the company. It should be reminded that the main sources of emissions in AlES are chimneys at power sources of B.Orazbayev CHPP-1, A.Zhakutov CHPP-2, Zapandnyi Thermal Complex (ZTC). Of these, four pipes at CHPP-1 and three pipes at ZTC operate on gaseous fuel, two pipes at CHPP-2 operate on solid fuel (coal).
In 2024, German “SICK” ASM equipment was installed, tested and commissioned at the stationary emission sources of CHPP-1 named after B.Orazbayev and the Zapadny Thermal Complex. Now construction and installation works are being carried out at A.Zhakutov CHPP-2. The system will be put into operation upon completion of commissioning and testing. The participants of the introductory tour were shown the installed ACMs on the station’s chimneys.
“ASM sensors have already been installed on two chimneys of CHPP-2 station at a height of 80 meters, – commented on the progress of work Olzhas Abil, chief specialist of the Department of Environmental Protection of “AlES” JSC. – This equipment is German company “SICK”. Commissioning is scheduled for the first quarter of 2025. Automated emission monitoring systems are designed for continuous measurement in real time mode in gas (flue) emissions concentrations, as well as calculation of gross emissions of substances. Including: nitrogen oxides NOx (NO, NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon oxide CO, oxygen (O2), solid and other substances. At the same time ACMs are equipped with devices for transferring the obtained data to the information system of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan in real time mode during industrial environmental control”.
This is a modern system of objective control of emissions into the environment, which has been developed taking into account the relevant regulatory requirements described in the laws on air pollution control of various countries, including the Republic of Kazakhstan. AFM will allow the company to fully comply with the requirements of the law on emissions, collection and transfer of information to the state fund of state environmental monitoring data.
“The results of permanent measurements are displayed on the computer monitor in the form of charts showing the values of current and accumulated emissions, as well as in the form of graphs,’ emphasised Olzhas Abil. – Data from measuring instruments that carry out continuous measurements of emissions and are transmitted in real time (online) to the information system of the authorised body in the field of environmental protection”.
The director of the Department of Labour Protection and Environmental Protection of AlES JSC Rasul Onalbayev told about the implementation of another project – on utilization and processing of ash and slag waste.
“This project will allow to comply with the order of the President Kasym-Zhomart Kemelevich Tokayev dated May 2, 2019 and the clauses of the Roadmap for a comprehensive solution of environmental problems of Nur-Sultan and Almaty, aimed at reducing the volume of ash and slag waste disposal in landfills, – said the Director of the Department of Labour Protection and Environmental Protection of “AlES” JSC Rasul Onalbaev. – According to the Road Map, AlES JSC started the procedure of technology selection, which will allow reducing the volume of produced ash and slag waste. Memorandums on implementation of joint projects on utilisation and processing of ash and slag waste have already been concluded with Arka development LLP, KazNTU named after K.I. Satpayev, NIIPK Kazdorinnovatsiya, Kaz NIIIPI Dortrans, LTD Mediator LLP, Vulban construction materials limited LLP. According to the concluded memorandum on cooperation and interaction in the implementation of projects on ash and slag waste utilization, AlES JSC together with the partners under the memorandum is working on a set of technical and administrative procedures. They include the study of ash and slag material by laboratory methods, study of the territory for future placement of necessary equipment, preparation of technical conditions for further designing”.
The delegation was also able to see the construction site of the new station during the visit to CHPP-2. This project is designed to use natural gas as fuel, which will minimize the environmental impact of the station. The planned electrical capacity of the station will be 557 MW and the heat capacity will be 957 Gcal.
Since the launch of the project, a number of works have already been carried out in accordance with the schedule. In particular, by November 1, 2024, the stage of completeness of the Project’s PSD on the portal of RSE “Gosexpertiza” was completed and the work of the RSE expert group was initiated in the same month.
Daniyar Suleimenov, Head of the CHP-2 Project Management Department, mentioned that in the beginning of December, motivated remarks were received from the RSE to the Project DDP and sent to KNEP, and in the same month the corrected package of documents was uploaded to the State Expertise portal in accordance with the remarks. In the middle of January an additional agreement №1 was signed to extend the terms of review of expert works from RSE “Gosexpertiza” (due to STU and uniqueness of the project) and in the coming days the conclusion from RSE “Gosexpertiza” is expected.
At the same time, construction works on auxiliary facilities, such as warehouses and workshops, utility rooms, communications, were carried out. In accordance with the project parameters it will be realized under the EPC contract till December 2026. It is planned to employ about 2,300 people for the construction – its peak workforce. And the operating staff, according to the feasibility study, will amount to 291 people. Not only production, but also environmental parameters of the project have already been outlined.
“Reduction of harmful emissions by 93% will be ensured: from 37.1 thousand tons to 2.7 thousand tons”, Daniyar Suleimenov said. – When implementing the gasification project of Almaty CHP-2, CO2 emissions will be reduced by 38%, from 4 million tons to 2.5 million tons. Due to the use of natural gas in efficient gas turbine units, emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere will be at the level of requirements for the implementation of the best available technologies of the EU and the Republic of Kazakhstan”.
In addition to the exclusion of suspended particles and sulphur oxides from the composition of emissions, the formation and disposal of ash and slag waste after gasification is excluded, the energy sector also noted. In addition, it is envisaged to preserve the structures of the external hydraulic ash removal system, including: ash and slag pipelines with emptying pavilions, clarified water pipelines, equipment of the clarified water pumping station. Evaporation fields for utilization of industrial effluents are envisaged in place of the existing ash disposal area. All this will be a significant contribution to the realization of the city’s environmental agenda.