Occupied ZNPP is on the verge of blackout: what are the risks?
21 October 2024 15:50
Today, on 21 October, at 12:18 a.m., one of the two power lines connecting the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhya NPP to the integrated power system of Ukraine was disconnected due to constant hostile shelling. This was reported by the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
“The plant is currently operating on a single power line, and the external power supply required for its safe operation is again under threat.
If this line is also disconnected, the plant will face another complete blackout. This, in turn, will jeopardise radiation safety at the plant.
“Due to hostile shelling, one of the power lines connecting the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhya NPP with the Ukrainian power grid was again disconnected. As soon as the security situation allows, power engineers will do everything possible to restore the power line to ZNPP. Only the return of control over the occupied Zaporizhzhya NPP to Ukraine can guarantee the safe operation of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant,”
– said Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko.
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ZNPP
Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe and the third largest in the world by total capacity. Located in the Zaporizhzhia region near the city of Enerhodar, it consists of six nuclear power units of 1 GW each. Construction began in 1981, and the first unit was commissioned in 1984. The last unit, the sixth, was commissioned in 1995.
ZNPP annually produced about 40 billion kWh of electricity, which was about 20% of Ukraine’s total power generation. It is also the first nuclear power plant in the country to have a dry spent fuel storage facility.
The Russian army seized ZNPP on the night of 4 March 2022, having previously shelled the nuclear facility. Russia has also occupied the city of Enerhodar, near which the plant is located.
Since the beginning of the Russian occupation, Zaporizhzhia NPP has experienced eight complete blackouts with the launch of emergency diesel generators and safety systems. Their failure threatens to cause an emergency, according to Energoatom.
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