INFORMATION about the reasons
and consequences of system failures
that have occurred in early January
2011, and the measures taken by
management of the industry for
their elimination and the warning of
N.L. Kravtsov, N.A. Abdyrasulova
INTRODUCTION
In early January 2011 for two days in the power system of Kyrgyz Republic four accident
occurred in high voltage networks of 220 kilovolts.
According to news line, in January 5, 2011, at 18:28, on the southern section of power system
accident occurred, which led to the shutdown of the main high-voltage transmission lines
connecting the Kurpsai HES and substation in October substation near the village of Suzak
(Jalal-Abad region) with the power system. After 7 minute of turn off, at 18:35 disconnected
power line voltage of 220 kV "Crystal" - "Yulduz" connecting the substation "Crystal" with the
Uzbek energy system.
Рис.1. Схематичное
местоположение аварий на карте
воздушных линий электропередач
Кыргызской Республики
The other two accidents that occurred in January 8, 2011 in the northern part of Kyrgyzstan's
energy system have led to the shutdown of the main transmission lines of 220 kilovolts, leaving
1.5 hours without electricity almost the entire northern part of the country and part of the AlmaAta region of Kazakhstan.
All objects – are high voltage network of 220 kilovolts, which indicated where an accidents
happened, are managed by JSC "National Power Network of Kyrgyzstan" (JSC "NPNK"), a
schematic location indicated on the map of air transmission lines of KR (Fig. 1).
1. REASONS OF ACCIDENTS
General statistics of the most common causes in violation in the work with electrical installations
in JSC"NES Kyrgyzstan", driven by the director of the State Inspection on Energy and Gas,
A.R.Tyumenbaev on board of the Ministry of Energy, shows the following:
Figure 2. Overall statistics on the reasons for the failures of the objects JSC”NPNK"
However, in these the total statistics do not specified percentage of the primary causes of failure
of the insulators, switches and fall of supports. For example, if the causes of the fall of towers are
the avalanche, car accident or a natural fall due to the rotting wooden supports of elements in the
case of insulators - damaged suspension insulators, etc. According to the instructions of technical
operation given in the general collection of the Rules of technical operation of electrical
installations by consumers (ROEI), to detect possible violations in the air-lines of the
organization, serving power transmission lines (in this case of JSC"NPNK"), should regularly
carry out a number of diagnostic and prophylactic measures. During technical operations
maintenance work should be carried out on protection of lines of elements from premature wear
by removing the damage and faults identified in the inspections, tests and measurements.
Moreover, in networks of electricity distribution networks (EDN) on the information from the
State Inspection on energy and natural gas in recent years a trend of steady growth in the number
of emergency power cutoffs. Among the main reasons for emergency power cutoffs in the
networks of EDNs, called:
 lack of funding for maintenance and repairs electrical installations (planned and capital
repairs), modernization, renovation and new construction;
 unsatisfactory performance of measures for maintenance and repairs electrical
installations (planned and capital repairs).
Low quality of technical maintenance of high-voltage networks and regulation of repair and
maintenance work would turn to emergency disconnection caused by:
 not on time replaced rotten supporters, misalignment of supporters and traverse on the
supporters;
 not enough clearance of the route for power transmission lines from growth of trees;
 insufficient operations of the wire waist of electricity transmission lines and replacement
of defective insulators;
 water ingress in distribution systems, leading to short-circuit, and the lack of protection
against short circuit;
 not fulfilled targets for the reconstruction of power transmission lines with the
replacement of the wire to a larger cross section;
 not sufficient operations on removal of the power transmission lines from emergency
sections, etc.
Extracts from PTTE, chapter 2.3. Overhead 2.3.11. On examination of overhead should be
checked: the fire state of
power lines and electrical conductors
2.3.8.
On
the
extraordinary
overhead
periodic
examinations
should
and foundations, consoles;
be • The status of power transmission lines ..., the
state of wires and cables: there shouldn’t be
organized.
Periodic
route, state
inspections
of
overhead
are breaks and fusion of individual wires, surges
conducted on the schedule approved by the on wires and cables, ...;
responsible body for the electrical equipment • The status of flexible bus systems;
of the customer. Frequency of inspections of • The status of insulators: there shouldn’t be a
each overhead for the entire length must be at breakage, burns, fractures, pollution ...; status
least once a year. Specific dates within the of
steel,
the
state
arresters,
switching
limits prescribed by these Rules should be equipment for overhead and cable terminations
determined by the responsible body for the on the slopes.
electrical equipment of the Consumer based on 2.3.19. In overhead areas and bus systems,
local conditions.
2.3.9.
subject to intensive pollution, should be
Extraordinary
inspections
of applied special or reinforced insulation, and if
overhead lines or sections should be carried necessary, should be cleaned up (washing)
out during the formation of ice on wires and insulation,
replacement
of
contaminated
cables, when the wires dance during ice insulators.
movement and river flooding, fires in the area 03.02.21. On the overhead voltage is above
of
overhead
track,
after
heavy
storms, 1000 V, subject of intensive icing should be to
hurricanes and other natural disasters, and melt by electric shock.
after turning off the overhead relay protection
and unsuccessful automatic reopen, and after a
successful re-inclusion - as needed..
To investigate the reasons and consequences of accidents on 5 and 8 of January were created two
commissions, chaired by the Vice Minister of Energy of Kyrgyz Republic Kalmambetova A.I.,
and the director of the State Inspection on Energy and Gas under the Ministry of Energy
Tyumenbaeva A.R. Commission concluded that the cause of accidents in 3 cases was the
breaking elements (plumes) of high voltage transmission lines, due to their damage in the joints.
Below is a brief background on each of the accidents with photographs taken during the
investigation commission.
a) Turn off the OL-220 kW "Complex of HES-October"
The reason for the first of the accident served as a break of plume
phase "B" pillar № 123 high-voltage power lines (transmission
lines) from the substation HPP Kurpsai "October."
b) Turn off the DV-220 kW "Crystal Yulduz"
According to the Commission, the eventual cause of the
accident was the destruction of an intermediary unit-type of
ARM-16-1 on the power lines from the substation "Crystal"
to the substation "Yulduz."
c) Accident on anchor supporter PS-110/35/10 kV "Central"
The cause of the accident was burned down wire AC 330/43 on the
output of the tension clamp WE-240-R-1969 to anchor a support
number 285.
d) The accident at the substation PS-220/110/10 kV "Home"
According to the commission the cause of disconnection
was a damage of the Coupling capacitor on substation 220/110/10 kV "Home", located on the overhead line
220 kV "Shu» ¸ phase - "A". Coupling capacitor has
crashed as a result of improper maintenance of electrical
equipment.
It should be emphasized that all the accidents occurred due to violations of the rules of repair and
preventive maintenance of staff of JSC "NPNK." And because of the weakened elements of the
line equipment (of small cost) were not replaced on time or brought into compliance with the
requirements of the regulations, the preliminary damages only to the power system of
Kyrgyzstan, amounted to nearly one million soms.
2. CONSEQUENCES OF ACCIDENTS AND THEIR ELIMINATION
According to information received from the State Inspection on Energy and Gas, an accident,
which occurred on 5th January, 2011 in the southern part of the power system, resulted disabling
Kurpsai HES and Kambarata hydroelectric station-2, which was stopped because of issuance of
the amount of power 475 MW from these power plants. Then, in order to avoid damage on other
plants of the cascade of Toktogul HES plant, the generators were turned off in another two HESon Tashkumyr and Shamaldysay. Totally in Kyrgyzstan on 5th January, 2011 48 stations was off,
covering 17-20% of consumers of Kyrgyz Republic according to the former General Director of
JSC "NPNK" R.Mamyrova.
Due to lack of power in the energy system of Kyrgyzstan the load has increased dramatically on
the main transmission line voltage of 500 kV "Agadyr-South Kazakhstan SDPP " (Kazakhstan),
which automatically disconnected due to overload, and the northern part of Kyrgyzstan, as well
as Zhambyl and Alma-Ata region more than 2 hours were left without electricity. During this
time, consumers haven’t received about 806 thousand kWh of electricity.
Accident that occurred on 8 January, 2011 in the northern part of Kyrgyzstan's energy system
have led to the disabling of the main transmission lines of 220 kilovolts, as well as "GlavnayaAlmaty", leaving 1.5 hours without electricity almost the entire northern part of the country and
part of the Alma-Ata region of Kazakhstan. In this case the Bishkek thermal power station was
forced to reduce capacity by 134 MW (more than 2 times), and consumers have not received
more than 120 thousand kWh of electricity. The information obtained from the commissions of
inquiry is summarized in Table 1.
Table 1.
Turn off the Duration
Reasons
power
disabled
MW
hours
475
≈ 2,2
of
Electricity deficiency
capacity
Cost,
thousan
thousand
d kWh
som
806
564,2
Accidents 5.01.2011
Disabling the generators of Kurpsai
HES and Kambarata hydroelectric
station-2
Disabling
Tashkumyr
Shamaldysay HES
and
Disconnecting the line 500 kV
"Agadyr-South Kazakhstan GRES"
Аварии 8.01.2011 г.
Disconnecting power transmission
lines
220
"Glavnaya
kV
1.2,"
"Glavnaya-Shu,"
"Glavnaay"
-
"Almaty"
134
1,5
120
84,0
926
648,2
Reduction of production of HES in
city of Bishkek
Total
Thus, the total cost of electrical energy that is not supplied to consumers only in Kyrgyz
Republic amounted to almost 648.2 thousand soms. In both cases, the damage caused by
termination of power production of enterprises, account of social and economic impact and
moral harm brought to power disabled customers are not counted.
3. PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS
Report on the results of commissions of inquiry into the causes and consequences of accidents,
was presented at a meeting of the Board of the Ministry of Energy, which held on February 18,
2011. As shown above, the causes of accidents were violation of the rules of repair and
preventive maintenance by the staff of JSC "NPNK."
Resolution of the Board of the Ministry of Energy proposed to the Board to dismiss the general
director of JSC "National Power Network of Kyrgyzstan ", and his deputies.
The report of the State Inspection on Energy and Gas, represented on Collegiums, provided for
in the number of planned measures to reduce the accident rate for 2011:
 development of a database for each energy company, including information on the
availability and status of power equipment;
 development of measures to improve safety and reduce accidents in electricity networks;
 introduction of modern computer programs that tests knowledge of the rules for
Electrical Installation, their technical exploitation, safety methods, etc.
Analysis of the list of these and other activities which are necessary to implement and reduce the
accident rate in the network, shows that besides low quality of maintenance of electrical
equipment in high voltage power transmission lines and distribution networks and management
of the RENs and "NPNK", there is also a low level of regulation and monitoring of these
companies. In addition, of course, is necessary to consider a wide range of existing problems
such as poor staff training, the development of corruption schemes in the energy sector, etc.
4. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Serious accidents have occurred in early January of this year, giving signals about the actual
status of the energy industry of Kyrgyz Republic. Facts indicate the feasibility of taking urgent
and effective measures for renovation of the energy system of the republic and the restoration of
a reliable, high-quality and uninterrupted power supply for all consumers. The results of
investigation of the causes of accidents show that most accidents occur because of the negligence
of staff and low level of management in electric power enterprises. The complexity of the
problems of the energy sector must be taken into consideration, and it is needed to recognize that
it cannot be limited only by replacement of management companies, the urgent implementation
of other measures needed to prevent possible recurrence of accidents in the near future.
Therefore, the working group has prepared the following recommendations:
a) To the Ministry of Energy:

together with the management of energy companies and the State Inspection on
Energy and Gas analyze and eliminate the causes that led to breakdowns in the
energy system in Kyrgyzstan, including the system of 5 and 8 January 2011;

recommend to the Board of Directors of the energy companies to adopt
comprehensive measures to eliminate the causes of accidents in the power
equipment, including monitoring the level of training manuals and staff services,
maintenance and repair, as well as suspension from work individuals ignoring the
procedural requirements;

organize the work of its own staff and subordinate services directed to the proper
execution by energy enterprises and companies work on a reliable, uninterrupted
and quality power supply to consumers;

request the State Inspection on Energy and Gas to implement the control of
performance of activities designed to remove the causes of accidents in the energy
system of Kyrgyzstan.
b) To the management of energy companies:
• immediately develop and implement a plan and take measures of strict implementation of
procedural works of technical equipment of systems, power generation, transmission and
distribution of electricity and heat;
• solve problems of outfit of staff with technical facilities of diagnosis and the movement for
effective monitoring of the equipment of electrical networks
Sources:
1. Messages from news lines Agency "Kabar" and News Agency «24.kg» based on a press
conference 6, 9 January 2011;
2. Report of Tyumenbaeva A.R, director of the State Inspection on Energy and Gas under the
Ministry of Energy of Kyrgyz Republic "On traffic accidents and violations in the energy
companies by end of 2010 and objectives for reduction on 2011";
3. Rules of technical operation of electrical installations consumers (RTOEI), approved by
Decree of Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation of 13.01.2003g.;
4. Rules for Electrical Installation: All applicable sections of RB-RB-6, and 7. 5th edition (with
rev. And add., As of June 1, 2006.). - Novosibirsk: Sib. Univ. Press, 2006. - 854s., IL.
5. Draft Decree of the Board of the Ministry of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic February 18,
2011.