Mangistau region to face rolling blackouts until Atomic Energy Complex restores power generation

ASTANA. Aug 14 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan's Mangistau region will have rolling blackouts until Mangistau Atomic Energy Complex or MAEK fully restores its operations after the emergency shutdown, the regional center of public communications said.

On August 13, national grid operator KEGOC cut the electricity supply after MAEK started urgent repairs of power generation unit No. 3 and shut down power generation unit No. 1 at CHPP-2.

"To balance supply of electricity across the region, scheduled power cuts for 3-5 hours will take place to limit the power consumption," according to the statement.

The rolling blackouts will continue until MAEK fully restores the operation of its generation facilities.

"Power cuts will affect the industrial facilities in favor of electricity supply to residential areas," the press release said.

On August 11, MAEK experienced a double failure of equipment at CHPP-2 that led to a massive power outage in the Mangistau and Atyrau regions, in the west of Kazakhstan. This was the second consecutive shutdown at MAEK over the past month.