Power supply disruptions in January this year in Atyrau and Mangystau regions were caused by natural phenomena. This conclusion was made by the State Commission for Investigation of the disruptions that occurred between 10 and 17 January this year in the Atyrau power region.

As previously reported, within the span of 10 to 18 January 2021 the abnormal weather and physical conditions (corona, insulation flashover) led to emergency shutdowns of electrical facilities of KEGOC JSC, Atyrau-Zharyk JSC, Atyrau CHP JSC, Atyrau Oil Refinery LLP, Tengizchevroil LLP, Karabatan Utility Solutions LLP and other utilities in Atyrau and Mangistau areas.

According to the conclusion of the commission, these events were caused by electrically conductive precipitation with impurities of sulfates and chlorides, which accumulated on the insulation in the amount that significantly exceeded the permissible values. The results of an independent study carried out by the Almaty University of Energy and Communications also support this conclusion. 

KEGOC, as a utility responsible for uninterrupted power supply to consumers, is taking additional measures to improve the reliability the National Power Grid operations in the Atyrau and Mangistau regions. Currently, the company is implementing a large investment project to strengthen the electrical network of Zone West of the UPS of Kazakhstan by constructing the second 220 kV Uralsk-Inder-Karabatan-Tengiz transmission line with a total length of 775 km. A number of other activities is planned as well.