Second external power line restored at Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant – Europe’s largest – was seized by Russian troops in the first weeks of the 2022 invasion of its neighbour.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
- A second external power line (Ferosplavna-1) to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant was restored, according to Russian operators.
- The restored line "significantly increases the stability of the station's power system" after being down since May 7, following the first line restored on October 23.
- The plant, seized by Russia in 2022 and requiring power for cooling, had relied on diesel generators for 30 days due to damaged lines.
AI generated
KYIV – A second external power line to the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine has been restored, the station’s Russian operators were quoted as saying on Nov 8.
The plant – Europe’s largest, with six reactors – was seized by Russian troops in the first weeks of the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Russia and Ukraine regularly accuse each other of military actions that compromise nuclear safety.
The plant currently produces no electricity, but needs external power to cool the nuclear fuel and avoid the risk of a meltdown.
The station’s Russian operators, in a statement quoted by Russian news agencies, said the second line known as Ferosplavna-1 was reconnected on Nov 8.
They said the completed action “significantly increases the stability of the station’s power system”.
The line had been down since May 7.
The first Dniprovska line was restored on Oct 23. With both lines out of operation, the plant had been without external power links for 30 days and relied on diesel generators.
Fighting nearby had prevented emergency crews from carrying out repair work, prompting the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, to help arrange local ceasefires.
The latest ceasefire took effect on Nov 7. REUTERS
