The emergency shutdown at the Lukomlskaya GRES did not lead to severe consequences thanks to the coordinated work of operational services

Electricity flows through the wires

On the evening of the past Wednesday, due to abnormal temperatures, a voltage transformer at one of the systems of the Lukomlskaya GRES failed. This led to the shutdown of eight power units of the GRES and all outgoing 330 kV lines. Consumers of the Orsha and Mogilev power grids were left without electricity. However, thanks to the coordinated work of the services, the emergency shutdown at the Lukomlskaya GRES did not lead to severe consequences: the transformer fire was extinguished in literally an hour, and the power supply was fully restored by yesterday morning. The details of the incident were investigated by correspondents of "SB - Belarus Today".

RUE "Vitebskenergo". Central Dispatch Service. Dispatchers Yuri Ilyushenko and Konstantin Posokhov. PHOTO BY ANTON STEPANISHCHEV

The fire was extinguished in an hour

At 22:13, rescuers were dispatched to a report of a fire on the territory of the Lukomlskaya GRES. After receiving clearance from the energy workers, the MES units began extinguishing the fire. To fully restore the generation mode at the Lukomlskaya GRES, start-up operations were simultaneously carried out to connect four power units with a total capacity of 1300 MW to the grid, followed by the connection of the remaining power units of the GRES.

— Our specialists also carried out start-up operations on two turbo-generators of the Minsk TPP-4 with a capacity of 100 MW each, — informed Vladimir Bobrov, First Deputy General Director — Chief Engineer of Belenergo State Production Association. — Additionally, two gas turbines with a total capacity of 50 MW were connected in the Brest power system. The first power unit of the Belarusian NPP helped to localize the consequences of the emergency situation that arose at the Lukomlskaya GRES faster and supply all consumers: the load when the GRES units were disconnected was actually halved.

Within an hour, thanks to the well-thought-out actions of the power system personnel, power supply to the system substations was restored.

Senior dispatcher Alexey Chernyshevich at the "Belenergo" control panel. PHOTO BY YURI MOZOLEVsky

The automation worked perfectly

Already at 22:47, power supply was restored in Mogilev. Social facilities were connected to the backup power supply, includingmedical facility.

— Our duty officers responded promptly to the incident, and the automation worked perfectly, — reported Alexander Shishov, Chief Engineer of RUP Mogilevenergo.

At 23:02, the voltage transformer fire at the Lukomlskaya GRES was extinguished. There were no casualties or severe consequences. Power supply to most settlements in the Mogilev and Vitebsk regions has been restored.

Closer to midnight, the 5th power unit of the Lukomlskaya GRES was connected to the power system grid. PHOTO BY YURIY MOZOLEVsky

Advantages of Teamwork

The power outage came as a complete surprise to the medical institutions of the city of Orsha. Sergey Karaka, Chief Physician of the district, said that a headquarters was organized:

— We worked late into the night. All medical institutions were left without electricity, but as for particularly important areas — operating rooms, intensive care units, and oxygen supply systems — no one felt any power interruptions here. We have diesel generators that turn on automatically in case of any failures. The fuel supply is enough for a day, and then you can simply add fuel. At the time of the accident, five people were on artificial respiration, three of them in the COVID ward. In total, central power supply was absent for about 50 minutes. 95 percent of the institutions were connected to the grid by 22:39, and 15 minutes later — the children's ward at the city hospital No. 1. But our specialists remained on standby until 2 a.m. — in case of new interruptions.

Igor Isachenko, Chairman of the Orsha District Executive Committee, states that the units of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and other services have sufficient alternative electricity supply sources. Even if the "dark" period had dragged on, the district could have withstood the negative consequences.

— The most vulnerable points of industry were immediately identified: the poultry farm and two pig complexes, where temperature regime violations mmay cause irreversible consequences. These facilities were connected to diesel generators," noted Igor Isachenko.


Vitebsk. Meeting of the regional operational headquarters. PHOTO BELTA

The provision of assistance to patients in healthcare facilities of the Mogilev region did not stop, emphasized **Alexander Starovoytov, head of the main department for healthcare of the Mogilev Regional Executive Committee**:

"Patients who were in hospitals and required artificial ventilation received it. In some hospitals, operations that began before the shutdown continued. Power supply interruptions did not disrupt operations, as all hospitals are equipped with batteries and diesel generators. Mogilev, Shklov, Belynichi, Krugloye were affected by the emergency. The most critical life support points were urgently activated. These are resuscitation and operating rooms. Therefore, the situation passed without incident, which was facilitated by regular drills that simulate similar situations and test medical facilities for readiness to switch to backup power sources. The fuel reserve for diesel generators in different medical facilities is sufficient for 10 to 25 hours of continuous operation.

On Enhanced Mode

Closer to midnight, the 5th power unit of the Lukomlskaya GRES was connected to the power system network. And at 07:51 yesterday, power supply was fully restored in the Mogilev and Vitebsk regions. The power system is functioning normally.

Lukomlskaya GRES. PHOTO BY VITALY PIVOVARCHIK

The press service of "Belenergo" reported: with the increase in air temperature, emergency crews across the country are working in an enhanced modein enhanced mode. Energy workers are taking all necessary actions to prevent emergencies. Engineering and technical personnel have strengthened control over the uninterrupted supply of electricity and the oil level in oil-filled equipment. In addition, operating power equipment and the most loaded power transmission lines are being inspected. Interaction with the Ministry of Emergency Situations and related contracting organizations has also been established.