Kazakhstan govt to provide $11 mln for Mangistau NPP repairs

ASTANA. July 19 (Interfax) - The government of Kazakhstan has allocated 4.9 billion tenge, or $11 million, to ensure reliable and trouble-free operation of the heat and power generation facilities at the Mangistau Atomic Energy Complex, the press service of the Cabinet of Ministers said.

The funds were allocated from the country's reserve fund for repair work at NPP at the request of the Mangistau Region akimat (administration) and will be used to purchase the necessary auxiliary equipment, a list of which was presented by the NPP.

"Replacing the affected components will make it possible to maintain the operability of the equipment and monitor its reliability and safety during operation while minimizing the risks of having to shut down the power plants' generating equipment and introduce restrictions for consumers," the official publication says.

As reported, on the evening of July 3 at the Mangistau NPP, due to an issue with the boiler, there was a forced shutdown of power unit No.1. The emergency shutdown of the unit caused a surge in power to the Aktau - Atyrau - Uralsk - UES of Russia 220 kV transit transmission line, the result of which was the emergency automatic shutdown of the 220 kV Tengiz - Beyneu lines. As a result, the power system for the Mangistau Region switched to isolated operation with a decrease in frequency and disconnection of consumers. The accident also affected the Atyrau power hub, placing the power plants of Tengizchevroil (operator of the Tengiz field), NCOC (operator of Kashagan), the Atyrau power and heating station, the Atyrau Oil Refinery, and the CPC-K pipeline into isolated operation (from the 220 kV transit transmission line), and affecting half the city of Atyrau and surrounding districts.

The current exchange rate is 444.15/$1.