Training exercise in Alashankou

Kazakhstan-China Pipeline LLP attaches great importance to occupational safety. In this regard, trainings, courses, and on-site training sessions are periodically conducted for the Partnership employees.

On October 12, 2023, the branch of Kazakhstan-China Pipeline LLP in Alashankou, People's Republic of China, organized a training exercise (TE) on response to emergency situations associated with corrosion perforation and oil leak at the Alashankou oil metering station in the border buffer zone at section 964 km of the Atasu-Alashankou main pipeline. The exercise was conducted in order to test the timing and quality of mobilization of manpower and assets by the operator "SPIX" (operating company), CNPC International Pipeline Xinjiang, as well as local executive bodies - the state fire service, supervision services, police, ambulance and others. The TE involved 68 people and 20 pieces of equipment.

At the same time, representatives of the central office of the Partnership took part in the event: Otarov K.I. - Executive Director of Operation; Gusmanov M.A. - Director of the HSE Department; Nussupov T.Zh. - Deputy Director of PCSCD; Baikonurova L.S. - Deputy Director of the Operation Department; Makenbayev B.A. - Chief Mechanic of the Operation Department; Begesheva M.T. – Chief Manager of the HSE Department.

It is known that the main oil pipeline originates from Aktobe region (Kazakhstan) in the west, and reaches Alashankou (Xinjiang, China) in the east, with a total length of 1759,36  km, and its throughput capacity is 20 million tons of oil per year. Kazakhstan-China Pipeline is an example of sincere cooperation and mutual benefit between China and Kazakhstan. 

To carry out the TE on response to the consequences of corrosion perforation and leak on the Kazakhstan-China Pipeline, the task was set to clearly show what actions are necessary to eliminate the emergency. The TE mainly focused on plugging leaks using flexible devices 3X, restoring an oil pipeline on land, and plugging leaks using flexible devices.

The event was also attended by: Gao Wenyuan - Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Head of the Emergency Management Bureau of the Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture; Nii Gafu - party group member and Deputy Mayor of Alashankou Administration; Wang Chongguo - Senior Inspector III, Division 5, Alashankou Customs Supervision; Liu Hongmei - party group member, Deputy Head of the Alashankou Development and Reform Commission; Vuliken - head of the Alashankou Emergency Management Bureau; Xia Likal - head of the municipal department Alashankou, Bureau of Ecology and Environmental Protection of Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture; Galkon - Deputy Head of the Alashankou City Health Commission.

Thus, all actions were demonstrated: from sounding a siren, spraying water mist by firefighters, taking a soil sample for monitoring, using emergency equipment to install a pump and tank, installing blocking tapes and clamps (sealing operations), extracting leaked oil until the entire operation is completed to eliminate the emergency.

Practice proves that visual actions are easier to remember by personnel, and these exercises become the best training after studying safety rules, in order to improve the skills of workers and develop emergency response skills.