Krasnoyarsk HPP: the history of construction

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Immediately after the Great Patriotic War, it became clear that the country needed a huge amount of electricity to restore its potential. This was especially true of Siberia, where hundreds of factories and enterprises were evacuated in 1941-42.

At that time, intensive construction of nuclear power plants was already underway, but for the construction of stations, high-class workers and scientists were needed, which were sorely lacking in those years. In addition, the Siberian region has always been rich in its majestic rivers, the energy of which the government really wanted to use for the good of the country. This is how the majestic Krasnoyarsk hydroelectric power station appeared, familiar to many on a ten-rouble note.

How it all began

August 8, 1959, a granite slab was thrown into the bed of the greatest Siberian river, on which the motto of the monumental construction that had begun was carved: “Submit, Yenisei!”. All over the world, such a daring challenge to the power of nature was perceived with a fair amount of skepticism. Europe has forgotten with what undisguised disdain they then looked at Lenin, who announced a global five-year program for the electrification of a vast country. Ilyich kept his promise, but this did not stop the stream of ridicule.

“It is impossible to block the largest full-flowing river, as this is the stupid fantasies of the Soviets,” wrote foreign publications. They soon realized that they were wrong this time too. The very construction of the Krasnoyarsk hydroelectric power station was an excellent refutation of this, serving as a symbol of another victory of man over the forces of nature.

In a word, the construction of the century (already in a row) was heard not only in the Union. Foreign journalists were even allowed into Krasnoyarsk, which at that time was a closed city. On March 25, 1963, the blocking of the riverbed began. At 10 am the first element of the overlap was dropped, and already at 21.00 the Yenisei was completely blocked.

However, it all started in 1955, when ordinary Soviet Komsomol members laid the foundations for the energy security of the entire region.

Really golden youth

In early November (!) 1955, the first 200 people arrived at the scene. No roads, no housing… Young people at first lived in tents. And this is in the most difficult conditions of the Siberian winter! Veterans of labor said that in the mornings they had to literally tear off sleeping bags from the frozen ground. The construction was extremely slow and difficult: there were severe frosts, and there was practically no heavy equipment.

Get up, the country is huge

Soon another 140 people from the Ivanovo region came up. All of them heard the appeal of the 20th Congress of the Central Committee of the CPSU. However, soon young people from all over the vast Union began to respond to him. Somebodywrote to the leadership of the Party about the desire to go to Siberia, but many came without an invitation. Already in 1962, the construction received the title of Komsomol.

It was the youth who became the main "engine" of the gigantic project. However, their mentors were experienced engineers and former soldiers of the engineering and construction troops. Many young builders lost all their loved ones in the war, and therefore a truly family atmosphere reigned at the construction site: the youth sincerely tried to learn from the veterans. They did it so successfully that the Krasnoyarsk HPP was completed by yesterday's "green" guys, many of whom were not even 25 years old.

On progress

To facilitate and systematize the work, three construction sites were laid out. To one of them, which was closest to the construction site, all the necessary building materials and entrenching tools were brought by train. Then there was a transshipment base in Laletino. From here, the valuable cargo was transported to Divnogorsk, where the main construction activity took place. Many had to stay at the transshipment bases, as the work of loading and unloading huge volumes of cargo required a large number of workers.

It took four whole years just to carry out preparatory work: all the necessary social infrastructure was built from scratch, workers laid roads and extended power lines. In addition, a woodworking plant was built and soon began to operate at full capacity, providing the construction site with many necessary materials.

Only afterthe construction of normal settlements could be transferred all forces to the construction of the hydroelectric power station itself.

In 1960, Andrei Bochkin became the head of the entire enterprise. He was a real demiurge of the Irkutsk HPP, so this amazing person had a huge experience in coordinating several construction sites. It was he who was looking for engineers who created the ship lift of the Krasnoyarsk hydroelectric power station: the Yenisei is a navigable river, and therefore the project was difficult even by today's standards.

Gagarin has arrived

Immediately after the initial blocking of the river, an even more significant event happened: Yuri Gagarin himself flew to the construction site! Not to convey how the builders were waiting for him. Already at six in the morning, when the plane of the world's first cosmonaut touched the runway, work was in full swing. And at 11 am the daily norm was already completed!

The world's best shovel

The "legacy" from astronaut number 1 left a shovel. She, as the greatest shrine, was passed from leader to leader. This legendary instrument is kept in the museum of Divnogorsk to this day.

However, at the stage of its construction, the Krasnoyarsk HPP saw almost all the first persons of the state. And there is nothing surprising in this, since a truly titanic project was being implemented in the depths of the Siberian wilderness. Already in 1970, the first generator of the station was put into operation, which immediately produced the first electricity. Thus, the Krasnoyarsk HPP was officially recognized as the most powerful in the world.

Only the Sayano-Shushenskaya station was able to break this record. Guess who herbuilt? Yes, in 1972, when unit 12 was put into operation, almost all the participants in the great construction went to the Sayans. That's when the Krasnoyarsk HPP was built.

Energy Artery of Siberia

This HPP has become one of the most powerful energy producers in the region. Its capacity is 6000 MW. But power generation is far from the only purpose of the station. It is a powerful distribution hub for the transmission of energy to the Eastern markets. In addition, JSC Krasnoyarskaya HPP is a reserve and guarantor of energy security: if some kind of emergency occurs in the region, entailing a blackout of cities and towns, it is the local generators that take over the replacement function.

Immediately after the commissioning of this facility, the region blossomed anew. The villages that were deserted after the war (not all, unfortunately) began to be settled again by people, a huge number of new industrial enterprises appeared. In general, when the Krasnoyarsk hydroelectric power station was built, Siberia for the umpteenth time became a symbol of industrialization, a formerly agrarian country.

By the way, even today this hydroelectric power station is one of the most powerful not only in the country, but throughout the world. More than half of the people who work here have higher technical education and many advanced degrees. Of course, they constantly advocate the introduction of new technologies into production.

Renewed and perfected

Of course, the largest hydroelectric power station in the Krasnoyarsk Territory could not always remain in its original state. But even inIn the hardest year of 1991, they nevertheless managed to allocate funds for its reconstruction. Currently, all 12 power units have been completely repaired and parts replaced, and the life of the station has been extended for at least another 40 years.

In addition, the telecommunications systems were completely replaced, and the computer rooms themselves were repaired. Today, the residents of the city are proud and grateful to those who gave the country this amazing miracle of engineering.