| Ekibastuz GRES-2 Power Station | |
|---|---|
The GRES-2 Power Plant in Ekibastuz, Kazakhstan |
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| Country | Kazakhstan |
| Location | Ekibastuz |
| Coordinates | |
| Commission date | 1987 |
| Owner(s) | Inter RAO UES (50%) Government of Kazakhstan (50%) |
| Power station information | |
| Primary fuel | coal |
| Generation units | 2 × 500 MWe |
The GRES-2 Power Station (or Power Station Ekibastuz) is a coal-fueled power generating station in Ekibastuz, Kazakhstan. GRES-2, built in 1987, has installed capacity of 1,000 MWe and has the world's tallest flue gas stack at 419.7 metres (1,377 ft) high. The chimney is about 38 metres (125 ft) taller than the Inco Superstack in Sudbury, Canada. Locals refer to it as "the Cigarette Lighter". This chimney is the tallest chimney ever built.
The power station is the start of the Powerline Ekibastuz–Kokshetau and uses a transmission voltage of 1,150 kV, the highest transmission voltage in the world. The extension of this line to Elektrostal in Russia is also designed for 1,150 kV, but it currently operates at only 400 kV. About 3/4 of the energy produced by GRES-2 is exported to Russia.
50% of GRES-2 shares are owned by Inter RAO UES, and 50% by Kazakhstan's government.
Contents |
The planned capacity of 4,000 MWe is to be provided by eight equal units, 500 MWe each.
On 30 May 2006, the chimney of the GRES-2 Power Station caught fire as flames and smoke could be seen pouring out of the top of the building. There were no reports of injuries and there was no word on the cause of the blaze. Firemen at the scene said all those inside the building had been evacuated.
| Records | ||
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| Preceded by Inco Superstack 380 m (1247 ft) |
World's tallest chimney 1987 – present |
Incumbent |