On May 22, 2025, a remarkable man, brilliant scientist, and beloved teacher – Karmel Kamilovich Tokhtibayev – passed away
Karmel Kamilovich Tokhtibayev was born on March 17, 1951, in the village of Ketmen, located in the Uygur District of the Almaty Region, Kazakh SSR. He grew up in a large farming family with five brothers and two younger sisters. He began his education at the local primary school. Throughout his life, he was known for his deep care and devotion to his family, who instilled in him noble human values – humility and determination. From a young age, he showed a keen interest in natural sciences and excelled in school. He graduated with honors from high school in the district center of the Uygur District – the village of Chundzha. At that time, Karmel Kamilovich was known for his handsome appearance, full head of hair, dashing mustache, and charming smile.
In 1969, he enrolled at the Kazakh Polytechnic Institute named after V.I. Lenin, majoring in «Electric Power Systems and Networks». In 1974, after five years of study, he graduated as an electrical engineer. His professional career began in August of the same year at the Kazakhstan branch of the «Energosetproekt» Institute in Almaty, established on the foundation of the Kazakh Department of Integrated Design of the Central Asian Branch of the All-Union State Design and Research Institute. Starting as an engineer, he was soon promoted to research associate and later became head of the Electric Power Systems Sector of Kazakhstan. On the recommendation of the «Energosetproekt» Institute, he entered the postgraduate program at the All-Union Research Institute of Electric Power Engineering in Moscow.
While working at «Energosetproekt» Karmel Kamilovich actively engaged in scientific research. Between 1983 and 1987, he wrote a dissertation on the development of emergency automation systems and maintaining the stability of power systems. After successfully defending his dissertation at All-Union Research Institute of Electric Power Engineering (Moscow) in 1989, he was awarded the degree of Candidate of Technical Sciences.
Having dedicated 24 years to «Energosetproekt», and recognizing the value of sharing his knowledge with the next generation of electrical engineers, Karmel Kamilovich joined the Almaty Institute of Power Engineering and Telecommunications (AIPET) in 1998 as an associate professor in the Department of «Electric Power Systems and Networks». In April 2001, he was awarded the academic title of Associate Professor. In August 2023, he received the honorary title of Distinguished Professor of the Almaty University of Power Engineering and Telecommunications named after Gumarbek Daukeyev (AUPET)
With his extensive practical and research experience in the energy sector, Karmel Kamilovich taught students complex and highly specialized disciplines such as:«Electromagnetic and Electromechanical Transient Processes in Power Systems», «Power System Design», and «Dispatching and Operation Control of Interconnected Power Systems». Throughout his long and successful academic career, he trained and mentored more than 300 specialists for Kazakhstan’s power industry, as well as around 50 master’s students and 5 doctoral candidates. He also had the honor of teaching his own children – his son Ravil and daughter Zarina – in electrical engineering at the very same university.
Alongside his teaching work at his home department, Karmel Kamilovich continued conducting scientific research, leading critical projects that were of great importance to Kazakhstan’s power sector. During his years at AUPET, he also headed the specialized research laboratory «Intelligent Electric Power Systems». It is worth highlighting the fatherly care, patience, and nobility with which he tirelessly passed on his knowledge to students, regardless of their nationality or background.
In the last decades of his life, despite a debilitating illness, Karmel Kamilovich courageously continued his work. He held the dual roles of research professor at the Department of «Power Systems» and head of the Scientific and Technical Center «Smart Power Grid» at the Non-Profit Joint-Stock Company «Almaty University of Power Engineering and Telecommunications named after Gumarbek Daukeyev».
Karmel Kamilovich was an outstanding scientist in every sense of the word. He developed a number of scientific and innovative solutions that were successfully implemented across various facilities in the national power sector. The technological and economic impact of his scientific work is measured in the significant increase in the reliability and efficiency of Kazakhstan’s Unified Power System. Over the course of his career, he was the author of more than 70 research projects, among the most significant of which are the following:
Automated System for Monitoring and Accounting of Interstate Electricity Flows with neighboring countries for the Customs Control Committee of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan. This project was implemented in 2009 and covered more than 100 metering points for electricity exchanged under the agreement on parallel operation of power systems. The Automated System for Monitoring and Accounting project of the CCC of the Ministry of Finance of Kazakhstan received recognition among the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union and the CIS. Today, the data from this system is also used by the tax authorities of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Development of a Feasibility Study for the Creation of a Centralized Emergency Automation System (CEAS). Implemented in 2020 at JSC «KEGOC». This project significantly improved the reliability of emergency control in Kazakhstan’s Unified Power System.
Development of a Feasibility Study for the Creation of an Automatic Frequency and Power Flow Control System (AFPFCS). Implemented in 2020 at JSC «KEGOC». This project marked the first time that domestic power plants were integrated into real-time frequency and power flow regulation.
Techno-economic studies for the development of algorithms and the creation of Wide-Area Control Systems (WACS) based on synchrophasor measurements (WAMS). Implemented in 2021 at JSC «KEGOC». This project increased the transmission capacity of the North-South energy transit corridor by 12%, or 250 MW — a critical achievement for meeting the electricity demands of consumers in the southern zone of Kazakhstan's Unified Energy System, especially during the autumn-winter season.
These projects were included in the national development program «Digital Kazakhstan».
Karmel Kamilovich was also the lead author of the Joint Development Concept for the Unified Energy System of Kazakhstan and the Central Asian Power System until 2030. This groundbreaking study was the first of its kind conducted after the independence of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
Karmel Kamilovich also devoted significant attention to Kazakhstan’s regional power distribution companies, where he developed and successfully implemented projects aimed at reducing electricity losses. Among them:
In the field of natural monopolies, Karmel Kamilovich served for many years as an expert in evaluating normative levels of electricity losses. During this time, he conducted technical audits for the following companies:
JSC «KEGOC»;
JSC «Alatau Zharyk Company»;
JSC «Atyrau Zharyk»;
JSC «West Kazakhstan REC»;
JSC «Akmola REC»
JSC «KazTransOil»;
JSC «KokshetauEnergo»;
JSC «Mangystau REC»;
LLP «Zhambyl Electric Networks»;
RSE «Kanysh Satpayev Canal»;
LLP «Kostanay Energy Center»;
JSC «Kazakhstan Temir Zholy» National Railway Company.
Among the most significant research projects carried out under contracts from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan were the following:
Enhancing the Capacity and Controllability of Kazakhstan’s National Electric Grid Based on the Creation of an Active-Adaptive Network implemented at JSC «KEGOC»;
Intelligent Monitoring and Forecasting System for Operational Reliability in Power Networks of Oil and Gas Complexes, Including Autonomous Renewable Energy Systems, implemented at JSC «MangystauEnergoMunai».
At the beginning of the 21st century, during a critical period when the country’s energy sector needed urgent reform and restructuring, Karmel Kamilovich participated in the development of the Concept for the Further Development of Market Relations in the Electric Power Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Under the guidance of Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Gumarbek Zhusupbekovich Daukeyev, and in collaboration with Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Almaz Ausydykovich Zhakupov, he contributed to research projects focused on shaping an effective tariff policy.
Throughout his research career, Karmel Kamilovich consistently assumed full responsibility for his work, often serving as the Scientific Supervisor or Chief Engineer of major projects. He was known for his professional and moral integrity in achieving ambitious goals, his perseverance in solving the most complex technical challenges, and his remarkable ability to lead and mentor both young researchers and university colleagues.
Thanks to his exceptional ability to find innovative solutions in difficult situations, Karmel Kamilovich earned the deep respect of executives from Kazakhstan’s leading power grid companies – JSC «KEGOC», JSC «Atyrau Zharyk», JSC «Alatau Zharyk Company», and others. This respect is reflected in numerous professional commendations and letters of appreciation.
Over the years, Karmel Kamilovich was rightfully honored with numerous official awards for his invaluable contributions to the national energy sector. Among the most prestigious distinctions were: Honored Power Engineer of Kazakhstan, Distinguished Power Engineer of the CIS Electric Power Council for his significant contribution to the development of power systems in the Commonwealth of Independent States, The «Yenbek Ardageri» (Veteran of Labor) medal for his long-standing service to the country’s energy infrastructure.
Today, hundreds of engineers, graduate students, and doctoral researchers working in Kazakhstan’s energy sector gratefully remember Karmel Kamilovich as a true mentor and a consummate professional.
Although he dedicated his life to the advancement of Kazakhstan’s energy sector and to the training of new generations of power engineers, he always valued friendship and remained a loyal and caring presence for his family and loved ones.
Dear Teacher, you will forever remain in our hearts – joyful, radiant, and a role model of integrity!
Our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all who were fortunate to know him.
With respect and gratitude,
His students:
D.Zh. Dzheksenbinov – Electricity Sales Manager, JSC «Kristall Management»
A.A. Saukhimov, PhD – Managing Director for NPG Development, JSC «KEGOC»
A.T. Bektimirov, PhD – Senior Lecturer, NPJSC «AUPET»
A. Golubina – Engineer-Economist, JSC «SMNU-70» (Russian Federation)
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