Ekibastuz GRES-1
Encyclopedia
Ekibastuz GRES-1 is a 4,000 MW coal-fired thermal power station
(GRES
) at Ekibastusz, Kazakhstan
. It has two 330 metres (1,083 ft) tall chimneys. As of June 2010, the Ekibastuz GRES-1 power station was the largest power station in Kazakhstan, and generated 13% of the nation's electricity.
From 1996 till 2008, the power station was owned by U.S.
-based AES Corporation
. By November, 1997, only three units were operational, producing 800 MWe on average. In the spring of 1998, all units except one were idle. The customers owed the power station about US$150 million of unpaid tariffs. In 1999, the average produced power was 215 MWe. In 2000, it was increased to 317 MWe after much needed repairs. As a result, the power station's generating capacity was increased from 1,050 to 1,200 MWe, but the problem of finding paying customers still resulted in low production levels.
On 4 February 2008, AES agreed to sell the AES Ekibastuz power station to Kazakhmys
. Under the terms of the management agreement AES continued to operate the station until December 2010.
On 10 December 2009, Kazakhmys PLC announced that it would be selling a 50% stake in the power station to the National Welfare Fund Samruk-Kazyna
for US$681 million. The transaction was completed on 26 February 2010. Kazakhmys and Samruk-Kazyna will create a joint supervisory board, and management positions will alternate between Kazakhmys and Samruk-Kazyna every five years. In the first five years following the transaction, Kazakhmys will appoint the management team whilst Samruk-Kazyna will appoint several key oversight positions. Over the next seven years the parties pledged to provide investment of around $1 billion at Ekibastuz, to upgrade the power station and restore it from its current capacity of 2,500 MW to its original nameplate capacity of 4,000 MW.
In June 2010, a pair of contracts were announced with Emerson Electric Company
to refurbish many of the control systems on units 3 through 8. This is estimated to take 5 years to complete and is expected to increase the efficiency of the affected units at the power station.
.
Thermal power station
A thermal power station is a power plant in which the prime mover is steam driven. Water is heated, turns into steam and spins a steam turbine which drives an electrical generator. After it passes through the turbine, the steam is condensed in a condenser and recycled to where it was heated; this...
(GRES
GRES
GRES is an abbreviation.* For the thermal-power-related term, see Thermal power stations in Russia and Soviet Union#Terminology* Grêmio Recreativo Escola de Samba, see Samba school...
) at Ekibastusz, Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
. It has two 330 metres (1,083 ft) tall chimneys. As of June 2010, the Ekibastuz GRES-1 power station was the largest power station in Kazakhstan, and generated 13% of the nation's electricity.
History
Most of the units were launched into service in the early 1980s. In January, 1996, due to mismanagement and disrepair, the capacity of the station dropped from 1,624 to 1,025 MWe, and further dropped to 655 MWe by June, 1996. Work at the station became hazardous: the equipment was not maintained, most of the control and emergency handling instrumentation was stolen from the power station. The units had to be frequently stopped because of break downs.From 1996 till 2008, the power station was owned by U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-based AES Corporation
AES Corporation
AES Corporation is a Fortune 500 company that generates and distributes electrical power. The company was founded on January 28, 1981, as Applied Energy Services by Roger Sant from the US Federal Energy Administration and Dennis Bakke from the Office of Management and Budget. AES Corporation is...
. By November, 1997, only three units were operational, producing 800 MWe on average. In the spring of 1998, all units except one were idle. The customers owed the power station about US$150 million of unpaid tariffs. In 1999, the average produced power was 215 MWe. In 2000, it was increased to 317 MWe after much needed repairs. As a result, the power station's generating capacity was increased from 1,050 to 1,200 MWe, but the problem of finding paying customers still resulted in low production levels.
On 4 February 2008, AES agreed to sell the AES Ekibastuz power station to Kazakhmys
Kazakhmys
Kazakhmys Plc is a UK-registered copper mining company whose main assets are located in Kazakhstan. Its headquarters are in London, United Kingdom. The headquarters of its main subsidiary, Kazakhmys Corporation, are located in the city of Karaganda, Kazakhstan...
. Under the terms of the management agreement AES continued to operate the station until December 2010.
On 10 December 2009, Kazakhmys PLC announced that it would be selling a 50% stake in the power station to the National Welfare Fund Samruk-Kazyna
Samruk-Kazyna
Samruk-Kazyna , officially known as the National Welfare Fund "Samruk-Kazyna", is a joint stock company in Kazakhstan which owns, either in whole or in part, many important companies in the country, including the national rail and postal service, the state oil and gas company KazMunayGas, the state...
for US$681 million. The transaction was completed on 26 February 2010. Kazakhmys and Samruk-Kazyna will create a joint supervisory board, and management positions will alternate between Kazakhmys and Samruk-Kazyna every five years. In the first five years following the transaction, Kazakhmys will appoint the management team whilst Samruk-Kazyna will appoint several key oversight positions. Over the next seven years the parties pledged to provide investment of around $1 billion at Ekibastuz, to upgrade the power station and restore it from its current capacity of 2,500 MW to its original nameplate capacity of 4,000 MW.
In June 2010, a pair of contracts were announced with Emerson Electric Company
Emerson Electric Company
Emerson Electric Company is a major multinational corporation headquartered in Ferguson, Missouri, United States. This Fortune 500 company manufactures products and provides engineering services for a wide range of industrial, commercial, and consumer markets.Emerson is one of the largest...
to refurbish many of the control systems on units 3 through 8. This is estimated to take 5 years to complete and is expected to increase the efficiency of the affected units at the power station.
Individual units
Each of the eight units has a nameplate generating capacity of 500 MWeMWE
MWE may refer to:*Manufacturer's Weight Empty*McDermott Will & Emery*Midwest Express, an airline*Merowe Airport - IATA code*Multiword expressionMWe may refer to:*Megawatt electrical...
.
- Unit 1 was launched into service in March, 1980.
- Unit 2 was launched into service in October, 1980.
- Unit 3 was launched into service in February, 1981.
- Unit 4 was launched into service in November, 1981.
- Unit 5 was launched into service in October, 1982.
- Unit 6 was launched into service in May, 1983.
- Unit 7 was launched into service in October, 1983.
- Unit 8 Out of service until 2012 pending retrofit.
