Zaporizhzhya NPP completely cut off from power after Russian shelling, says Energoatom
Emergency generators at plant powering cooling systems for two reactors (Photo:REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko)
The Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in occupied Energodar has been completely cut off from external power due to shelling by the Russian army on the evening of Nov. 2, the state nuclear pwer operator Energoatom reported on Telegram.
Russian shelling damaged the last two high-voltage lines of Zaporizhzhya NPP that connected it with the Ukrainian power system.
At 11:04 p.m., the station was completely de-energized. All 20 diesel generators were switched on.
Currently, the power supply scheme for ZNPP’s own needs has been optimized, with nine diesel generators continuing to operated. Reactors 5 and 6, which were still producing heat, are being transferred to cold shutdown state.
There is enough fuel for the operation of the diesel generators in complete de-energization mode at ZNPP to last 15 days, Energoatom said.
Russian troops have set up firing positions at ZNPP and are shelling Ukrainian cities from there. Energoatom reported that the Russian military deployed at least 14 units of heavy military equipment with ammunition, weapons and explosives in the turbine hall of the first reactor of Zaporizhzhya NPP. In total, more than 40 units of Russian military equipment and more than 500 enemy troops were deployed on the territory of the plant.
Following a visit to the ZNPP, the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) called for a halt to shelling in the area of the plant and for a safe zone to be set up around the ZNPP.
Negotiations on this are said to be underway. Meanwhile, the IAEA has established a permanent presence at the ZNPP.
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