OREANDA-NEWS. September 24, 2012 The final stage of the Fifth National Competition for Operating Personnel of HPPs finished in Irkutsk. Eight teams of Russian HPPs took part in the competition. The team of the Zhigulevskaya HPP became the winner; the team of the Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP ranked second. The Dagestan Branch of JSC RusHydro and the Irkutskaya HPP of JSC Irkutskenergo ranked third and fourth respectively.

The winners in the category "Best in Profession" included: Dmitry Mezentsev, a power plant shift supervisor (the P.S. Neporozhny Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP), Gadjibeg Darishmagomedov, a turbine room shift supervisor (the Dagestan Branch of JSC RusHydro), Nikolay Tarakanov, a water turbine equipment operator the Irkutskaya HPP of JSC Irkutskenergo) and Dmitry Kuznetsov, an electrician on duty (the Zhigulevskaya HPP Branch of JSC RusHydro).

The National professional competition for hydropower workers has been held since 2005 in order to assess and improve the skills of the operating personnel of HPPs, as well as to share the best practices in energy equipment operation and ensure safe operation of HPPs. The capabilities of computer simulators, automated knowledge testing systems and operator training systems are shown during the competition. Besides, up-to-date technical means for training, automated testing and personnel training are introduced. The competition is aimed at improving and assessing the skills of operating personnel of HPPs, as well as at promoting advanced and new working methods.