The Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, in southern Ukraine and considered the largest in Europe, was left completely without power after Russian bombardments on Wednesday, which damaged the only two high-voltage lines that connected the plant to the Ukrainian electricity grid.
Energoatom, the state operator of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, reported Thursday on the Telegram social network about the disconnection of the nuclear power plant from the Ukrainian power grid, located on Ukrainian territory, but currently under Russian military control.
“Yesterday, November 2, 2022, the two remaining high-voltage lines connecting the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant to the Ukrainian power grid were damaged as a result of Russian bombardment. The plant lost power at 23:04 local time [09h04 em Lisboa] “, explained the company.
For safety reasons, the plant’s 20 standby diesel generators were turned on.
Zaporizhia currently has enough power to meet the internal needs of the plant with only nine diesel generators in operation.
Power units No. 5 and No. 6, which were active, are currently in the process of being dismantled following the bombing, Energoatom added.
“There is enough diesel to keep the generators on standby for 15 days if the power to the plant remains completely cut. But the countdown begins until the total loss of power from the plant, ”he specified.
Energoatom added that “Ukraine’s ability to ensure the safety of the Zaporizhia plant is significantly limited due to the Russian occupation and intrusion into the management of the plant by representatives of Rosatom,” Russia’s state nuclear power agency. , which has taken control of Zaporizhia.
The situation of the nuclear plant, the third largest in the world, worries Ukraine and allied countries, since it is located in a region that was annexed by Russia and there is intense fighting.
The plant’s facilities have been under attack since the beginning of the Russian invasion on February 24.
Source: TSF
