Across Central Asia, a significant number of thermal power plants continue operating steam turbines far beyond their original design life. Most of these units are Soviet-era machines commissioned between the 1960s and 1980s, yet they still play a critical role in ensuring regional energy security.
Current state of thermal power assets
In several countries, the aging of thermal power infrastructure has reached a critical level:
Kazakhstan. The average age of thermal power plants is 61 years. Approximately 76% of facilities are older than 50 years, while component wear levels range between 66% and 80%.
Uzbekistan. Many steam turbines installed in the 1960s–1970s are operating two to three times longer than their originally designed service life.
Mongolia. Thermal power plants in Ulaanbaatar, built between the 1960s and 1980s, experience frequent equipment failures, significantly increasing the risk of power outages and blackouts.
Why replacement is not a realistic short-term solution
Replacing aging turbines with new OEM units requires several years and substantial capital investment. Delivery lead times, engineering complexity, and multi-million-dollar CAPEX make full replacement impractical for many power producers.
As a result, life-extension and targeted modernization programs have become the only realistic approach to maintaining stable electricity generation while managing financial and operational risks.
Rotors Tech — extending the service life of steam turbines
With more than 20 years of engineering experience and access to complete technical documentation for Soviet-designed turbines, Rotors Tech supports thermal power plants in safely extending turbine operation by an additional 10 to 20 years.
Our capabilities
- Manufacturing of rotors, blades, and diaphragms
- Turbine modernization and efficiency improvement programs
- Life-extension solutions providing an additional 100,000–150,000 operating hours
- Technical diagnostics and on-site engineering supervision
Why power plants choose Rotors Tech
- Deep specialization in Soviet-designed steam turbines
- Faster and more cost-effective solutions compared to OEM alternatives
- Precision manufacturing aligned with original design requirements
- Full life-cycle engineering support, from diagnostics to implementation
If you are planning a major overhaul, modernization, or turbine life-extension project, Rotors Tech is ready to provide technical support and engineering expertise.
WhatsApp: +421 948 857 031
Email: info@rotors.tech
