KYIV: The Russian Occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) has been disconnected from Ukraine’s Energy Grid for the first time in its history after nearby fires damaged overhead power lines, according to the country’s State Nuclear Power Company.
The blazes broke out in the ash pits of the nearby, mainly coal-powered Zaporizhzhia Thermal Power Plant (TPP), Energoatom said in a statement on Thursday, resulting in the nuclear station’s two working power units being cut off.
It was not immediately clear what had caused the fires, but Energoatom noted the Zaporizhzhia plant’s security systems were working as normal.
“The NPP’s [Zaporizhzhia plant’s] own power supply needs are currently provided from the energy system of Ukraine through the communication line between the ZNPP and Zaporizhzhia TPP,” the company’s statement, posted on Telegram, said.
“Thus, the actions of the [Russian] invaders caused a complete disconnection of the ZNPP from the power grid – the first in the history of the plant,” it added.
Work was under way to reconnect one of the reactor blocks to the grid, Energoatom said. There was no immediate comment from Moscow.
The developments came just hours after the chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) told the France 24 news channel that the UN’s nuclear watchdog was “very, very close” to being able to visit the Zaporizhzhia plant, located in southeastern Ukraine.
IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi also said he hoped IAEA’s inspection mission will take place “within days” once a deal has been reached on gaining access to the site, which the United Nations says should be demilitarised.
“We need to go there, we need to stabilise the situation, we need to ensure a presence of the IAEA soon,” Grossi told France 24 while on a visit to Paris.
The Zaporizhzhia plant was captured by Russian troops in early March, within weeks of Moscow launching its offensive, but it is still being operated by Ukrainian staff. –Agencies
