Preparations for the heating season and the state of the CHP were discussed in Ekibastuz

Akim of the region Abylkair Skakov, after visiting the Ekibastuz CHPP, held a meeting with the participation of the management of Ekibastuzteploenergo LLP, Pavlodarenergo JSC and the Chairman of the Board of CAEPCO JSC. The head of the region heard the reports of the parties and gave instructions on preparations for the heating season and further development of the ETPP. Abylkair Skakov stressed that neither the increase in the tariff nor the transfer of the plant to communal ownership will solve the problems that have accumulated in the heat supply system now.

According to Pavel Melnichuk, Director General of Ekibastuzteploenergo LLP, repair work continues at the station. As of today, a delay from the schedule has been recorded - instead of 93% of the scope of work planned for completion by this date, 75% have been completed. The non-compliance with the plan was also confirmed by the audit of the Committee for Nuclear and Energy Supervision and Control of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Akim of the region noted that the backlog is significant, given the time before the start of the heating season. Abylkair Skakov offered the heads of the heat supply company to name the exact dates for the start of heating supply. After that, according to the head of the region, the commission of the relevant Committee of the Ministry of Energy will conduct a re-inspection.

- Today, the management of CAEPCO JSC guaranteed that preparations for the heating season would be completed in a timely manner and that the heating season itself would proceed as normal. I repeat once again: no one will allow the city to be frozen for anything. We have all the necessary resources and forces,” Abylkair Skakov said, also giving instructions to the city leadership to prepare houses and social facilities for the heating season.

Separately, the akim of the region dwelled on the problems of development of the ECHP. According to him, five steam boilers operate irrationally and uneconomically, to eliminate the problem, it is necessary to build a new turbine.

- And CAEPCO JSC has a corresponding feasibility study. But it still remains only on paper. Optimal solutions and financing options have not been worked out. Nothing was discussed with the akimat, - Abylkair Skakov emphasized.

The head of the region also drew attention to the fact that the heating networks, also owned by Ekibastuzteploenergo LLP, require major renovation. But neither the company's management nor the shareholders presented the relevant plans to local executive bodies.

- Their position led to the current situation: no quality preparation for the heating season, no clear vision of the station's further development. Neither one nor the other. But there are loud statements about the need to increase the tariff. Our position is that tariff increases as such are not a panacea. The problem is complex. Heat supply is a complex, multilevel, interdependent process. If you lose sight of any one link, this can affect the reliability of the entire heat supply system. So, the tariff, whatever it may be, is not a decisive factor. Just like belonging to a CHP. Transferring it to communal ownership will not solve the problem, - Abylkair Skakov said.

Akim of the region said that he would initiate the creation of an appropriate commission and conduct a technical audit. The results will be studied jointly, the head of the region said, and a further action plan will be developed jointly. Its goal should be high-quality and stable heat supply to Ekibastuz.

Press service of the akim of Pavlodar region

Photo by Valery Bugaev