Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant disconnected from Ukrainian grid
Lviv, Ukraine, Aug 25 (EFE).- The Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant has been disconnected from Ukraine’s power grid after nearby fires damaged power lines, energy company Energoatom said Thursday.
The fire broke out at the ash pits of a coal plant near Zaporizhzhya, which has been under Russian occupation since March, prompting the shut down of the last two operating reactors at the nuclear power plant.
“Today, August 25, 2022, due to fires at the Zaporizhzhya TPP ash dumps, located next to the Zaporizhzhya NPP, the last (fourth) transmission line connecting the ZNPP with the power system of Ukraine, (…) was cut-off twice. Three other transmission lines were damaged during russian shelling earlier,” the company said.
“As a result, two operating units of the power plant were disconnected from the grid.
“Thus, the actions of the invaders caused a complete disconnection of the ZNPP from the power grid – for the first time in the history of the plant,” it added.
The company said start-up operations were underway to connect one of the power units to the grid.
The incident comes as director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi said that a mission by IAEA experts to inspect the power plant was “close.”
Meanwhile, the United States accused Russia of behaving “irresponsibly” and demanded it immediately cease all military operations at the Zaporizhzhya power plant.
The situation at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant has raised serious concerns of a confrontation that could lead to an atomic incident with unpredictable consequences.EFE
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