Floods are, according to specialists from the Ust-Kamenogorsk hydroelectric power station, a key stage related to regulating water levels, protecting the ecosystem and safety. As Svetlana Nishchenko, chief manager for PR and GR of the Ust-Kamenogorsk hydroelectric power station, noted, the volume of water that must be discharged by the hydroelectric power station, as well as the start date of release, is determined by a permanent interdepartmental commission in the first ten days of April. This decision is made based on the forecast of lateral inflow of the RGP «Kazhydromet». Also, the participants of the press tour were told about the modernization of the station’s hydraulic units and what changed after the transfer of 100% of the participation shares of Ust-Kamenogorsk HPP LLP «AES» and Shulbinskaya HPP LLP «to a subsidiary » subsidiaries«of JSC » Samruk-Energy«» Qazaq Green Power PLC (QGP).

How to attract investors

As Svetlana Nishchenko explained, the enterprises have moved into a structure that unites producers of «clean» energy. They still work according to the same standards, requirements, and regulatory documents. All the requirements that were imposed on energy facilities of this type have been preserved.

«Qazaq Green Power – this is a public company, «green» portfolio of JSC «Samruk-Kazyna», – said Tlek Aidabulov, General Director of «AES Ust-Kamenogorsk HPP» LLP and «AES Shulbinskaya HPP» LLP. – In addition to our two stations, it included Shardarinskaya, Moinakskaya HPPs and wind stations. For us, absolutely nothing changes in terms of management. QGP is engaged in projects, in the future it will attract investors and also participate in the construction of new stations. The potential of the Irtysh today – is about 4.2 GW of installed capacity, about 1.8 GW – of effective capacity that can be realized. How to do this? We need to attract investors. How should the Kazakh side participate? It must participate with the guaranteed assets it has. Most likely, it will be us (Ust-Kamenogorsk and Shulbinskaya hydroelectric power stations)».

According to Tlek Aidabulov, the portfolio «of Samruk-Kazyna», its subsidiary Qazaq Green Power, contains a ready-made pre-feasibility study for the Semipalatinsk hydroelectric power station, and the implementation of this project can begin within the framework of EPCF contracts. A feasibility study of the second stage is also planned at the Shulbinskaya HPP. If now its capacity is 700 MW, then the second stage will provide an additional 350 MW.

«In addition, further along the Irtysh you can install Belokamenskaya, Pavlodarskaya, and some other stations. About 10 hydroelectric power stations can be installed. Now these companies are moving towards the future. The projects are difficult, quite complex, because these are flooding of the relevant territories, seizure of plots, relocation, construction of new villages, relocation of roads, engineering structures», – noted Tlek Aidabulov, adding that hydroelectric power station construction projects are very expensive.

A record figure

The Ust-Kamenogorsk hydroelectric power station currently employs 155 people. Production staff is 80%, administrative – 20%. In 2024, the hydroelectric power plant generated more than 1.8 billion kW/hours of electricity, and Tlek Aidabulov called this a «good» figure. Annual average – 1.5 billion kW/hours.

«This was due to the high water content. Last year, on the Chinese side there was a dam failure of about 5 cubic meters. km. All this went into our Bukhtarma reservoir. And, accordingly, with high water content and with a large lateral inflow on the Kazakh side, we «worked» this water in generator mode, – added Tlek Aidabulov. – Last year we achieved a record power utilization factor of 58% for the Shulbinskaya HPP – 26%».

In the tariff component, the share of the Ust-Kamenogorsk hydroelectric power station last year was 3.44 tenge, this year the tariff was 4.29 tenge per 1 kW/hour. Second source of income – capacity market. According to Tlek Aidabulov, the hydroelectric power station is participating in auctions.

«If in 2023 the price on the power market was 590 tenge per kW, then this year the starting price was 1065 tenge per kW, and we contracted for 1060 tenge. We always spend what we earn on modernization. For example, at the Ust-Kamenogorsk hydroelectric power station there are four hydraulic units. The first, second and third are completely modernized, except for the rotor blades. But these are details. Now our fourth car is being modernized. We placed an order in Russia for the production of an impeller and rotor — this is the heart inside the stator. Delivery will begin next year. We are already carrying out repairs in 2026, and in 2027 we plan to modernize and deliver the fourth car».

At the same time, Tlek Aidabulov emphasized that at the fourth hydraulic unit, after repairs, the power will increase by 12 megawatts. Implementation period – 2024-2027. Estimated cost of repairs – 11.8 billion tenge.

On each of the three already modernized machines there was an increase in power by 12 MW, to 96 MW. For comparison, the entire Turgusun hydroelectric power station generates an average of less than 25 MW annually.

By the way, after repairs, they want to install the old fourth hydraulic unit weighing more than a hundred tons in the Left Bank Park of Ust-Kamenogorsk as a monument.

The plans of the Ust-Kamenogorsk hydroelectric power station – cover the dam with a special material to avoid leaks and strengthen concrete together with the European company Carpi.

Tlek Aidabulov also complained that there are energy problems associated with a shortage of personnel at the Ust-Kamenogorsk hydroelectric power station. But fluidity is minimal – about 5%. The workers have a good social package; now the hydroelectric power station plans to reimburse the costs of hot meals for all personnel by approximately 80%. In February of this year, the hydroelectric power station achieved figures of 10 thousand days without accidents with the contractor and 5.5 thousand days with personnel. There are protocol instructions from the managing directorate of JSC «Samruk Energo» to increase safety costs by 30%. One of the know-how — is the organization of work with full video recording. Video surveillance is installed on each employee’s helmet, and the information is transmitted to a common server, where it will be analyzed. In addition, an electronic medical examination system will appear here, where a person’s general condition will be determined by the pupils of the eyes and pulse.

Flood as a test of strength

During the press tour, journalists were shown an engine room with four hydraulic units, a bomb shelter for one person left over from the «Cold War» times, a control panel, a control room, an automatic diagnostic and control system, a rub – technological room at the bottom of the hydroelectric power station building, in fact, a tunnel under water, which ensures the collection and removal of leaks, spillway dams. They also showed how a daily inspection is carried out with measuring the water level and downstream temperature using a – «firecracker» device.

«Ust-Kamenogorsk HPP is the counter-regulator of Bukhtarma HPP. As much as she dropped, we will pass exactly the same amount through our hydroelectric power station. We do not have a lateral inflow, the Ust-Kamenogorsk reservoir is not additionally replenished, — noted Svetlana Nishchenko. — Lateral inflow – is what flows downstream, water from the mountains, snow melting, and the Shulbinskoye reservoir receives more water. They have a greater discharge of water, which is difficult to predict. It all depends on the weather. For hydroelectric power stations, flood — time X, when everything is tested for strength. Spillways dams – we raise – is a picture that shouldn’t be. The water must pass through in generator mode».

Olga Ushakova (inbusiness.kz)