Vitebsk determined the best power plant workers
A national skills competition for high and supercritical pressure power plant workers was held at the "Training Center" branch of RUP "Vitebskenergo". During theoretical and practical tasks, the best boiler operators, turbine operators, and shift electrical fitters representing 14 power plants of the country were identified here.
These specialists are, in essence, the foundation upon which the uninterrupted operation of a power plant is built: the boiler operator controls the operating mode of the boiler unit, the turbine operator, accordingly, controls the turbine, and the task of the shift electrical fitter is to ensure the proper functioning of electrical equipment. That is, the reliability of heat and electricity supply and the safety of the energy system largely depend directly on their knowledge, skills, and competent actions, especially in emergency situations. That is why great attention is paid to improving the professional training of workers in the Belarusian energy system. In this regard, skills competitions, which are organized constantly, hold a special place. It is possible to make a name for oneself on the international stage as well. For example, for several years now, domestic energy workers have been achieving high results among high-voltage power transmission line maintenance crews at competitions among CIS countries, and representatives from the Vitebsk region were among them. However, regarding boiler operators, turbine operators, and shift electrical fitters, national competitions in these specialties have not been held for 8 years. However, the First Deputy General Director - Chief Engineer of Belenergo State Production Association, Alexander Sivak, assured that they will now become traditional.
– This republican competition is an assessment of the professionalism of our specialists; the reliability of power plant operation, the provision of electricity and heat to the entire national economic complex depend on their skills. Therefore, we attach great importance to these competitions and will make them traditional, perhaps not annually, but once every two years for sure, as they are important for the training and professional development of operational personnel, – noted Alexander Vladimirovich at the opening ceremony of the competition.
It is a special honor to host them in the Vitebsk region, emphasized **Mikhail Luzin, General Director of RUP "Vitebskenergo"**; maximum effort was made to receive the guests with dignity. According to Mikhail Vladimirovich, the significance of the competition also lies in the fact that it spurs the improvement of professional skills and career growth.
– At one time, I was one of the participants in these competitions with my team from Minsk CHPP, then, while working at Belenergo, I acted as a judge. And today, among the team leaders from 14 power plants, I see those who once competed for the title of the best boiler or turbine operator. The competition identifies the strongest, gives an opportunity to prove oneself, so it is also important in terms of personnel training, – said Mikhail Vladimirovich. – In general, professional training of personnel is one of the top priorities, as complex equipment is operated in the energy system, which requires serious training to work with. The specifics of the profession are such that training should be continuous, as technologies do not stand still, and therefore, knowledge must be constantly updated to achieve great success. This task in the Vitebsk region is being addressed, among other things, by the "Training Center" of RUP "Vitebskenergo," which has become a venue for the competition.
To be honest, the Lukomlskaya GRES team, which showed the best knowledge and high professionalism, also captivated with its openness, positivity, and good energy. Vladimir Burak, head of the boiler-turbine shop of Lukomlskaya GRES, spoke with pleasure and pride about his employees, noting that the overall result depended on all three participants and each of them gave their best. For example, boiler operator Viktor Krasnov took 6th place among representatives of his specialty, but the gap from the first place was only 7 points. Experience helped him cope with the tasks: Viktor has been working in the shop since 1984. Surprisingly, he once received a musical education, but fate brought him to the energy sector; thanks to his perseverance, he achieved a high level of knowledge in his chosen profession, which he now gladly passes on to young people.
Senior duty electrician Dmitry Meshelkov learned about the details of an energy worker's job from his father, Valery Gennadievich, who has been working at the Lukomlskaya GRES for many years. Dmitry decided to follow his example in choosing a profession and, after graduating from the Minsk Energy College in 2005, joined the power plant. The young man approaches his duties responsibly and easily absorbs new knowledge. Their knowledge base in the competition among duty electricians allowed him to also take 6th place, leaving behind representatives from eight power plants.
The best turbine operator in the republic, Andrey Gorodinsky, has been working at the workshop for 11 years. Behind him is the same energy college and practical experience. The results of one of the stages eloquently spoke about him being a highly qualified specialist: in the competition for commissioning and identifying equipment failures, performed on a computer simulator, Andrey scored 120.7 points out of a possible 120! 0.7 points are additional bonuses for promptness. As a result, Andrey became the pride of the power plant, district, region, and most importantly, his close-knit family, who were very worried about him.
– After the competition, the entire team was gathered at the GRES, and the management congratulated our guys on their victory in a solemn ceremony, – said Vladimir Burak. – First place is the common merit of each of them. What is the secret of success? They thought before making a decision, approached all actions consciously, and clearly knew what they were doing. The team is excellent, competent, and responsible. I want to thank them for this victory!
The Novopolotsk TPP team honored the only female participant in the competition – turbine operator Inga Plyutova, who took third place in her specialty. This sweet, fragile woman handles the turbine with ease; she has over 10 years of experience. Her professionalism did not go unnoticed by the jury. Boiler operator Sergey Sinyak and electrical equipment maintenance electrician Dmitry Anisimov also made an effort. As a result, the Novopolotsk TPP took fourth place in the overall team standings.
– What did participating in the competition give us? For us, it's an assessment of our capabilities, an opportunity to see how equipment operation is organized at other high-pressure power plants, to communicate with colleagues and exchange experience, as everyone has faced different situations, – noted Evgeny Moisenya, Deputy Chief Engineer for Operations at the Novopolotsk TPP. – And our specialists tested their knowledge and once again felt the responsibility that is placed on them daily.
The Vitebsk TPP also participated in the competitions: senior duty electrician Alexey Yaltykhov, boiler control central panel operator Sergey Gerasimov, and young turbine control central panel operator Maxim Kuksar. And although they could not make it into the top ranks, as the jury members rightly noted, the competition was held in fair play, and there are no losers here, as the best of the best participated in it.
The professionalism that the power engineers demonstrated at the competition, they show every day, ensuring the reliability of the power system. Daily work is the real exam for them, which they pass with honor.
Olga Maslovskaya, photos by the author. "Vitebskiye Vesti".