Three of 9 NPP reactor units lower output for maintenance - Ukrenergo

MOSCOW. Feb 9 (Interfax) - Three nuclear reactor units have lowered the output for maintenance, Ukrainian media said, citing an Ukrenergo statement on a social network.

The national electricity-transmission-system operator started reporting a decline in the output of reactor units for maintenance on Wednesday, when the first unit was reported, followed by another two by Thursday.

Additionally, Ukrenergo reported increased power consumption: the daily maximum observed at around 6 p.m. on Thursday was 4% higher than that of Wednesday, February 7. Power consumption was 2% higher at 10 a.m. on Friday, compared to February 8.

The power grid is not expected to have deficit despite growing consumption.

According to Ukrenergo, 359 populated localities in Ukraine were having a blackout on Friday morning for various reasons, versus 366 on Thursday.

The power outage had technical reasons in the Dnepropetrovsk, Kiev and Kharkov regions.

Ukraine operates nine reactor units of the South Ukrainian, Rovno and Khmelnitsky nuclear power plants with an approximate overall capacity of 7,800 MW.