§ 7. Electric power industry

Especially important and necessary branch of the national economy is the ­ electric power industry. This branch influences the territorial arrangement and development of all productive forces of the industry ­ and the society, therefore electric power industry it is possible to name leading branch of economy of republic. The electric power industry is the ­ branch defining the direction of specialisation of area.

Economy electrification is one of mainstreams ­ of scientific and technical progress. Demand for the electric power in manufactures where new technologies, automation and computerisation widely take root increases.

The arrangement of power stations of the enterprises is influenced by two factors: presence of large supplies of fuel and energy resources ­ and their arrangement near to energy consumers. If expenses for fuel transportation is low the power station is under construction near to the consumer, in case of the big expenses - are closer to the fuel source. The manufactures demanding a considerable quantity ­ of energy (the aluminium, magnesian, titanic industry­, manufacture of ferroalloys) and heat, are usually concentrated near to the centres of development of the electric power. For example, for manufacture ­ 1 t aluminium on the average it is necessary for 18 thousand in kw-h of the electric power­, and magnesium - 20 thousand in kw-h, therefore metallurgical and electrochemical manufactures are expedient to have near large power stations.

In the general manufacture of the electric power of power station of the country are divided into hydroelectric power stations (HYDROELECTRIC POWER STATION), atomic power stations (ATOMIC POWER STATION) and thermal power station (THERMAL POWER STATION).

In republic of 90 % of the developed electric power give thermal power stations ­ which burn coal, gas, black oil. TPS are subdivided into the state regional power stations (state district power station) making only the electric power, and the electromain lines developing the electric power and thermal energy (hot water, steam). Heating power plants provide with hot water town houses­, hothouses, and manufacturing enterprises - the ferry. Such stations are under construction in big cities and near to the industrial ­ enterprises. Nearby 20 HPP work on ekibastuz coal in economic region of Kazakhstan, Ural Mountains and Siberia. Manufacture ­ of the cheap electric power in these regions gives the chance to develop the industry black and nonferrous metallurgy.

One of the major forms of the organisation of manufacture is concentration of manufacture of the electric power on large power stations­. In vicinities of Ekibastuz in full power works as a state district power station-1 and partially - a state district power station-2, capacity of each of them - on 4 million in kw-h; state district power station-3 building is suspended.

On southwest coast of Lake Balkhash in settlement Ulken Almaty area there is begun building of the fourth Balkhash state district power station which will work on Ekibastuz coal.

In the Pavlodar area the Aksu state district power station as capacity of 2,4 million in kw • ч, providing with energy Aksu ferro-alloy factory works­.

Except Ekibastuz in republic following thermal power stations operate­: a state district power station-1, a state district power station-2 in vicinities of Karaganda, the Zhambyl state district power station capacity of 1,3 million in kw-h, power station in Aktobe, Almaty.

However thermal power stations negatively influence environment as a waste of used fuel - ashes and smoke - are air pollution sources. It is necessary ­ to pay attention to ecological conditions in these areas­. Chimneys of power stations should be located at height more than 300 m with obligatory installation on them of special nozzles for catching of poisonous gases.

8 % of the electric power made in the country, give hydroelectric power stations­. Such stations settle down in mountain areas where force of falling of water is used. Hydropower resources of Kazakhstan, which majority is in the east and south – east of the country, give the chance to receive 160 billion in kw-h of the electric power a year.

On hydroelectric power development Kazakhstan is on the third place after Russia and Tajikistan. HYDROELECTRIC POWER STATIONS are effective, reliable, if necessary quickly get into gear, do not pollute ­ atmosphere. The hydroelectric power stations working in basic ­ in the summertime of year have the lowest cost price of made ­ energy. However HYDROELECTRIC POWER STATION building goes very slowly.

In republic operate Ertis, Buhtyrma, Ust - Kamenogorsk stations and the largest in Kazakhstan Shulbi HYDROELECTRIC POWER STATION with capacity of 1,3 million in kw-h. Small hydroelectric power stations ­ are available also on the mountain rivers of Ore Altai: Ulbi, Hajruzov, Turgusun, Tishinsky.

On the river Ile-Kapshagai, and on Syrdariya - Shardara HYDROELECTRIC POWER STATIONS are. On the rivers Big and Small Almaty, near Almaty, operates cascades of small hydroelectric power stations.

For national economy development is favourable building of small ­ HYDROELECTRIC POWER STATIONS (capacity from 100 kw-h to 30 МВт) on the small rivers. In post-war years in Kazakhstan about hundred such stations (by this time there were 16 stations) have been constructed. Now on the river of Charyn there is a building of Mojnak HYDROELECTRIC POWER STATION.

In Mangistau area, in Aktau, till 1999 operated unique atomic power station in the country. Capacity of this station is 350 kw-h, worked it on uranium (nuclear fuel). The quantity of heat allocated ­ 1 kg of uranium, corresponds to the quantity of heat allocated ­ in 2,5 thousand t of coal. The atomic power stations build usually in areas where fuel and water resources are limited. The Mangistau station provided ­ region with potable water, freshening waters of the Caspian Sea. Now the given station is dismantled.

In territory of Kazakhstan, especially in the western and central parts, surplus of wind power is observed. On wind installations ­ in areas where winds constantly blow, it is possible to develop the electric power. Wind stations are very simple: on sixty installations one person can work only.

If in the east of Almaty area, in Zhongar gate to construct wind station it is possible to receive the electric power which capacity of station "will exceed twice Altamont Pass the San-gorginio" in American state California ­(6000 МВт - 80 % from the general capacity of all wind stations ­ in the world). Building of such station is planned by Almaty regional administration. In all areas of our country there are ­ tens places where it is possible to construct wind stations. In realisation ­ of the similar program deficiency of financial assets affects.

In republic the local power systems not connected with each other are generated: Altai, Almaty, Central-Kazakhstan­, Pavlodar, Aktobe. The North Kazakhstan system is connected with the East and Central-Kazakhstan ­ power supply systems. The Almaty power supply system through the city of Bishkek ­ incorporates to power supply systems of Zhambyl and Southern - Kazakhstan areas and further - with power supply systems of Uzbekistan­. The Aktobe power supply system is connected with Ural which through the Volga region incorporates to the power supply system of the European part of Russia. However till now the uniform power system of Kazakhstan which would connect operating power stations ­ in territory of the country with high-voltage electrolines is not created­­. It constrains national economy development.

Since 2006 in the country the program of "30 corporate leaders of Kazakhstan" functions. According to the program 500 kw transit the north-south of Kazakhstan the Kazakhstan company on management ­ of electric networks "KEGOC" realises joint-stock company­. The project purpose consists of creation of new transmission lines for maintenance with an electricity ­ of southern areas of the country.

As a result of realisation of the project throughput of transit of an electroline in a direction "north-south" will increase from 4,5 billion in kw • h (630 megawatt) to 7,5 billion in kw • h (1350 megawatt). Building will come to the end in 2009.

In territory of Kazakhstan there is a power supply system in the extent ­ of 450 thousand in km; from them 200 thousand in the km constructed in 60-70th years of XX century, need under repair.

One of the overall objectives facing the country, creation of an integrated power grid of Kazakhstan is.