This year's maintenance starts at Zaporozhye NPP

SIMFEROPOL. Jan 29 (Interfax) - This year's maintenance, which includes service and overhaul of major equipment, has begun at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, the plant's Telegram channel said on Thursday.

"The maintenance period has begun with the commissioning of main and backup equipment of second channels of the safety systems of power unit No. 5. Work is being done in the reactor and turbine sections, as well as in the workshops where the equipment is located," the channel said.

Third-party specialized entities will take part in maintenance for the first time this year. They will be tasked with overhauling two diesel generators of the safety system. Some of the work will be done by plant personnel, with the main tasks to be carried out by Atomenergoremont.

"The absolute priority is the safety of personnel and equipment. Special attention is paid to the entire maintenance cycle, from personnel training and incoming material inspection to documentation and equipment handover. The plant's reliable and safe operation directly depends on the quality of this work," the channel said.

Maintenance will be in progress throughout the year.

The Zaporozhye NPP with six VVER-1000 reactor units is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. It stopped generating electricity on September 11, 2022. All six reactors are in a cold shutdown.

All plant facilities are incorporated into the Zaporozhye NPP federal state unitary enterprise and owned by Russia. The Zaporozhye NPP Operator, founded by Rosatom's Rosenergoatom, runs the plant.