Zaporozhye NPP switches to backup power supply

ROSTOV-ON-DON. May 22 (Interfax) - The Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant in Energodar was disconnected from external power supply via a line coming from the Ukrainian territory on Monday, the NPP administration said on Telegram.

"Disconnection of the 750kV Dneprovskaya high-voltage power line has deprived the Zaporozhye NPP of external power supply. Diesel generators power internal processes," the statement said.

Reasons for the line disconnection are being established. Radiation levels at the power plant are normal, it said.

The Zaporozhye NPP, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, operates six VVER-1000 power units. The plant has not produced electricity since September 11, 2022. Five reactors are in cold shutdown, and one is in hot shutdown to meet the plant's needs.

The plant's facilities have been transferred to Russian ownership, and the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant Federal State Unitary Enterprise has been established. The operator is the Operating Organization of the Zaporozhye NPP, which was established by Rosenergoatom, part of Rosatom State Corporation.

Several IAEA experts have been deployed at the NPP on a rotating basis since September 1, 2022.