Zaporizhzhya NPP's switched off unit temporarily substituted to avert energy system problems - Ukrhydroenergo head
MOSCOW. Aug 9 (Interfax) - The Dniestr Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) of the Ukrhydroenergo company managed to temporarily substitute for the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant's (NPP) power unit, which was switched off on August 5 after power lines were damaged, and helped prevent serious problems in the energy system, Ukrhydroenergo general director Igor Syrota said.
"When the power unit had to be switched off, the Dniestr HPP operated three of its power units simultaneously, generating 8.5 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per day. This is our mission - to maintain the emergency and balancing reserve and to provide auxiliary services," the Ukrainian media quoted Syrota as saying on Tuesday.
If the other two functioning power units at the Zaporizhzhya NPP are switched off, Ukrhydroenergo has the reserves to substitute for them for a brief period of time, he said.
"We have the reserves to substitute even for two power units, but for a short period of time," Syrota said, adding that over this period, the energy system will have to adjust electricity production.
As reported, one of the Zaporizhzhya NPP's three functioning power units was switched off on August 5 after power lines were damaged.
Meanwhile, the board of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU) plans in the near future to consider suspending or amending the licenses on the operation of the first and second power units of the Zaporizhzhya NPP, the press service for the Energoatom nuclear energy company of Ukraine said on Telegram.
SNRIU has also tasked Energoatom with promptly taking measures to decide on a safe configuration for the Zaporizhzhya NPP's power units.
The Zaporizhzhya NPP is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe when operating at full capacity. Its six VVER-1000 reactors with a 1,000Mw capacity each were built under the V-320 project. The first power generating unit was put into operation in December 1984, and its sixth unit began operating in October 1995.