Power supply restrictions lifted in Atyrau, Kazakhstan - Mangystau NPP

ASTANA. July 3 (Interfax) - Restrictions on the power supply to Atyrau, the administrative center of the Atyrau Region in western Kazakhstan, have been lifted, Mangystau Nuclear Power Plant LLP said in a statement.

"At 7:22 p.m. local time, the Atyrau power center was synchronized with the Western power center. At 8:36 p.m., the Mangystau power center was synchronized with the power system, and the restrictions were lifted," Mangystau NPP said.

According to the company, the No. 1 power unit, with a load of 130 MW, was shut down during an emergency at the thermal power plant on Monday evening.

"Owing to the abrupt retirement of generation at the Western energy center, the frequency of the electrical network decreased to 48.6 Hz. Because of this, the Mangystau and Atyrau energy centers were allocated to isolated operations. For the same reason, the Atyrau CHPP, the Karabatan Utility Solutions combined cycle gas plant, Kalamkas gas stations and TCO [Tengizchevroil] were allocated to isolated operations," Mangystau NPP said.

Repair work will begin on the malfunctioning power unit on July 5, once it has cooled.

"Repair work will begin after midnight on July 5, 2023, once the No. 1 power unit has cooled for more than 24 hours. An urgent request has been submitted to repair the unit by midnight on July 6, 2023," Mangystau NPP said.

Mangystau NPP added that the operation of the power unit was halted "owing to a sharp increase in the boiler make-up water feed."

As previously reported, operations at the Atyrau oil refinery were suspended owing to a power drawdown incident at the Mangystau NPP.

The Mangystau Nuclear Power Plant supplies manufacturing industries and households of the region with electricity, heat, and water.