After a complete power outage: power supply to the Zaporizhzhya NPP has been restored
14 April 13:09
After the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant was completely disconnected from the external power grid, the plant was reconnected to a single power line. Power supply was successfully restored via the “Ferosplavna-1” high-voltage power line, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported on Tuesday, April 14, citing information received from ZNPP management, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
On the night of April 14, the Zaporizhzhia NPP completely lost its external power supply for the 13th time since the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.
“The loss of external power supply once again highlights the risks to nuclear safety during the conflict,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.
The outage lasted about 90 minutes, and the plant’s power was maintained using emergency generators. The IAEA continues to monitor the situation at the ZNPP. The organization is also continuing consultations with both sides regarding the establishment of a local ceasefire to repair another power line at the plant, the statement further notes.
The ZNPP has been under fire since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine
The Zaporizhzhia NPP is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. It consists of six power units with a total capacity of 6,000 MW. It is located near Energodar on the southern shore of the now-shallow Kakhovka Reservoir. Russia occupied the Zaporizhzhia NPP in March 2022, shortly after the start of the war in Ukraine, transferring it to the management of JSC Rosenergoatom.
All of the plant’s reactors are shut down but require constant cooling. Electricity is supplied to the cooling system from the external grid. In the event of a power outage, diesel generators provide backup power. During the war, the plant has been repeatedly shelled, with Russia and Ukraine accusing each other of the attacks. The post-war management of the Zaporizhzhia NPP is one of the key issues in discussions on how to achieve peace in Ukraine.
