Jan 25 blackout in Kazakhstan caused by short circuit in Uzbekistan - KEGOS

NUR-SULTAN. Jan 28 (Interfax) - This week's power outage in Kazakhstan was caused by a short circuit in Uzbekistan, affecting the operations of six power generating units at the Syrdarya Thermal Power Plant, the press service for the Kazakhstan's national electricity provider KEGOS said in a statement.

"On January 25, 2022, at around 11:59 a.m. Nur-Sultan time, six power units at the Syrdarya Thermal Power Plant in Uzbekistan stopped working because of a short circuit, resulting in a total of loss of electricity output of more than 1,500 megawatts. The power shortfall that emerged in Uzbekistan's power grid led to an unsanctioned power takeoff from Kazakhstan's power grid, which operates in parallel with the energy systems of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. As a result, there was a power surge in the 500-kilowatt North-East-South Kazakhstan transit line with a subsequent overload," the press service said.

In order to prevent damage to power generating equipment and a total blackout across the country's southern regions, automatic systems separated electricity transit, isolating the power grid of the Almaty, Zhambyl, Turkistan and Kyzylorda regions, KEGOS said.

"All power plants in the country's southern regions continued operating, supplying around 1,500 megawatts of electricity to consumers. Thus, a complete blackout in the southern regions of Kazakhstan was averted," it said. Since power transmission via the 500-kilowatt North-East-South Kazakhstan transmit line was suspended, limitations stood at around 1,800 megawatts.

"The power grid of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan stopped operating in full, disconnecting all power plants and consumers. The cutoff load in Uzbekistan's power grid was some 9,600 megawatts (100% consumers), while in Kyrgyzstan it was around 2,600 megawatts (100%) consumers," KEGOS said.

"As part of steps to restore power supplies, Kazakhstan extended assistance to the power grids of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan by applying the voltage to power plants in these countries, a move that allowed them to start the restoration process," it said.