United by one workshop
At CHPP-1 named after B. Orazbayev, the power equipment repair shop No. 1 is the main link of the Energoremont PRP (CREO-1). People work here who are responsible for the smooth operation of the station’s power equipment. Today we will begin getting to know the old-timers and young workers of the workshop.
CHPP-1 named after B. Orazbayev is one of the oldest stations in our republic. She turned 85 in 2020. Since 2017, the station has been running on natural gas. The main tasks of the workshop are the production of capital, routine, preventive and emergency repairs of power equipment and its repair and maintenance. The workshop includes seven divisions (areas for repair of boiler and turbine equipment, areas for thermal automation and measuring instruments, boiler cleaning and thermal insulation repair, as well as general shop maintenance personnel). The friendly workshop team employs 137 people. Of these, 20 are engineering and technical workers and 117 are working personnel.
The head of the workshop, Beibit Maksutov, admits that there is practically no staff turnover here. People either quit due to moving to another city or retire.
“We have an established, united team. This is our second family,” Beibit Maksutov says proudly. “Many have been working for decades. They know their job thoroughly.
Handyman
Beibit Maksutov is one of these workers. In 2017, at the request of the management of the Aktobe CHPP, he and Sergei Lapin, the leading engineer of the control and vibration laboratory, were sent to repair and start up the turbine unit. At the Aktobe CHPP there were serious problems in the regulatory system. Professionals in their field, Beibit Maksutov and Sergey Lapin, the next day after their arrival at exactly six in the morning, together with local personnel, launched the turbine. They completed the task on time.
Beibut Maksutov has been working in the energy sector for 26 years. In 1995, he began his career as a 2nd category mechanic repairing auxiliary equipment in the boiler shop of A. Zhakutov CHPP-2.
— I work a lot with people. We have a large and friendly team. I like communication, problem solving, mastering new technologies and equipment. I receive a huge charge of energy from the result of our work: light and warmth in our homes, comfort and coziness. I believe that each station equipment has its own character. A separate unit requires its own approach, and our work is interesting because after repair everything comes to life and begins to work harmoniously,” shared Beibut Maksutov.
I’m treating equipment
Since 1981, Natalya Alakushukova has been working in the energy sector for almost 40 years. She is sure that energy specialists are not born, but rather become!
“I always wanted to become a doctor, treat people, help them, hear words of gratitude in return, see happy eyes and smiles on my face,” said Natalya Autovna, but I came into the energy industry quite by accident. And every year I understand that I love my job and do not regret choosing a profession. I am an insulator, a skilled worker, I carry out work on insulating building structures, pipelines and technological equipment from harmful environmental influences. The main purpose of this work is to conserve heat. I can say with confidence that I “treat equipment.”
Natalya Autovna strictly monitors the good condition and reliable operation of devices and equipment, timely and high-quality elimination of problems. The main thing, in her opinion, in work is responsibility. Accountability is necessary to work effectively and achieve results. The most valuable thing for Natalya Autovna at the station is the team, united by common ideas, interests and united by work.
— The station is my special workplace, where I feel good. Only those who find themselves in work receive a great charge of energy,” continued Natalya Autovna. — A boost of energy is when you go to work with joy in the morning, and happily return home in the evening.
A professional in his field
Boiler equipment repair area No. 1 (URKO-1) is one of the main structural units of the workshop. The site personnel repairs and maintains equipment in the station’s boiler shop.
According to Alexey Lyatser, the head of this section, working at a thermal power plant involves constant study and learning new specialties. After all, repair requires a thorough study of the equipment, operation, and technology for extending its life.
Alexey Evgenievich has been working at the station for 27 years, and his continuous experience in the energy sector is 37 years. He employs 59 people.
“The most important thing is to work without incidents, take care of the health of personnel, the absence of accidents, trouble-free operation of the main and auxiliary equipment,” shared Alexey Evgenievich. –My working day begins at approximately seven in the morning with reviewing the logs of defects in the boiler shop equipment and the work of the watch personnel. Next, I distribute work between teams and check attendance sheets. I work a lot with documentation in various fields of activity: work with personnel, safety and health, technical problems, IMS, etc.
You need to approach any work with your soul, feel responsible for the task assigned, says Alexey Evgenievich. I often give examples from life to the younger generation about the coherence of teamwork in difficult situations. For example, when in the spring of 1997 the water level in the ash dump of ATPP-1 approached critical, there was a threat of overflow. Within a few days, the Energoremont PRP team, which I led, installed a new pipeline along the slope of the dam, and we were able to eliminate the emergency situation and reduce the water level. And if you remember December 2017, then as a result of a rupture of the scalloped pipe on the boiler, the boiler was put out for emergency repairs. More than 30% of the ceiling superheater pipes were damaged. Under normal conditions, the repair would have taken at least a month; there was a lot of work to be done on lining and thermal insulation, replacement of superheater pipes, festoons, frames, sheathing and other work. We worked around the clock, additional personnel were brought in from other areas. The boiler-assembly shop specialists worked promptly and competently, producing a new superheater in the shortest possible time. The repair work was completed in 15 days with high quality and the boiler was put into operation.
In its place
A labor organization and regulation engineer is considered one of the main employees of any manufacturing enterprise. He is responsible for calculating wages for workshop employees, preparing labor reports, and statistics of hours worked.
In 2010, Meruert Amireeva, an engineer for labor organization and regulation, got a job at the station at PRP Energoremont.
According to Meruert, interest, dedication, internal motivation and responsibility play a huge role in the successful implementation of work. After all, an organization and regulation engineer must clearly understand the goals and objectives of his work and strive to achieve the highest possible results. Analytical thinking is no less important for successful labor standardization activities. It is the ability to identify potential risks and find cause-and-effect relationships that distinguishes a true professional from an ordinary specialist.
Despite difficulties
Sometimes you have to leave your comfort zone, says Nurzhan Abdullaev, site foreman for repairing turbine equipment.
— The first time I left my “comfort zone” in 2019, I repeated the words of Genghis Khan “if you are afraid, don’t do it, if you do, don’t be afraid.” Then I transferred from a category II process engineer in the boiler shop to a leading engineer in the repair and construction shop of CHPP-2 named after A. Zhakutov.
For the second time in 2020, I transferred from category 1 process engineer of the station’s boiler shop to Energoremont PRP as a 5th category mechanic. Then he became acting master, and now I work as a master.
Nurzhan has been working in the energy sector for 11 years. In 2010, he was hired as a 4th grade pump pump mechanic in the boiler shop of A. Zhakutov CHPP-2. At that time, he was a 4th year student at the Almaty Institute of Energy and Communications, majoring in Thermal Power Engineering. Worked on shift. In the same year, thanks to the training program at the expense of AlES JSC, I entered the master’s program at AUES and successfully graduated. The training was in the evening. Nurzhan studied on the job.
“I am grateful to our company, the shift manager of the boiler shop Nurtaz Ismailovich Iskakov, as well as the senior boiler equipment foreman Rakhmatzhan Amutov for their understanding and support. Since 2013, I have been an activist in our youth organization “Zharkyn Bolashak” of AlES JSC. During this time, we organized many events, forums, and also participated in various trainings. I made a lot of friends there.
In his free time on weekends, Nurzhan goes hiking. This is a hiking trip through the mountains. The mountains and nature give him a boost for the week.
To be continued.