Repaired Khmelnitsky NPP unit connected to grid ahead of schedule

MOSCOW. April 1 (Interfax) - A repaired unit of the Khmelnitsky Nuclear Power Plant has been connected to the grid two weeks ahead of schedule, Ukrainian media said, citing the Energy Ministry.

"For now, the Khmelnitsky NPP contributes 300 MW/h of electricity to the Ukrainian power grid because of restrictions imposed by the Ukrenergo electricity transmission system operator. Its output will increase when the restrictions are lifted," the ministry said.

It also reported emergency power outages in the Dnepropetrovsk, Sumy and Poltava regions on Saturday evening on the orders from the Ukrenergo dispatcher. They were caused by the transmission system operator's restrictions aimed to prevent overwhelming of trunk lines.

Hourly power outage schedules are still in effect in the Kharkov region, the ministry said.

"There is no power shortage or threat of emergency power outages in other regions," it said.

As reported, Energoatom started repairs and put a nuclear power plant reactor unit on maintenance on March 8. Before that, it was operating all the nine nuclear power plant reactors available.

The second unit of the Khmelnitsky Nuclear Power Plant was disconnected from the grid on March 14, and Energoatom was running seven reactor units at the rated capacity. The overall capacity of nuclear power plants stood at 5,900 MW.

The Khmelnitsky NPP with two VVER-1000 reactor units and a total capacity of 2,000 MW is located in Netishin, Khmelnitsky region.