Yesterday, the South Ukraine NPP was disconnected from two power lines

Southern Ukrainian nuclear power plant, photo from open sources

On the night of November 16 and in the morning of November 17, four substations of Ukrainian nuclear power plants, which the IAEA determined to be important for nuclear safety, were damaged by Russian attacks. And yesterday, November 21, the South Ukraine NPP was also disconnected from two power transmission lines.

This was stated by Director General Rafael Grossi at a meeting of the IAEA Board of Directors, LIGA.net reports.

According to the IAEA, in recent days the nuclear power plant gradually began to restore power lines and increase output, but again reduced power generation in the morning of November 21 as a precautionary measure.

Raphael Grossi emphasized that the Zaporizhzhia NPP twice lost connection with the 750 kV power transmission line within several days. It «continues to face challenges not least because of the vulnerability of its limited extra-urban power lines,» he said.

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«All six reactors remain in a cold state, and the agency's further position is that no reactor will be restarted while the nuclear safety and security situation at the Zaporizhzhia NPP remains at risk,» he noted.

On November 21, the South Ukraine NPP was also disconnected from its two 750 kV power transmission lines for maintenance. The facility was still receiving power from its backup systems.

«The growing instability of the power system is a source of deepening concerns about nuclear safety, and it affects all nuclear power plants,» said Rafael Grossi.

Previously, power unit №1 of the Southern Ukraine NPP was disconnected from the grid in October for approximately four hours.

It was also reported that preparatory work is underway at the South Ukraine NPP before the construction of two power units. Currently, a geodetic report on the selection of a site for the construction of these facilities has already been developed, and relevant geological studies have been conducted.