August 25th 2022
Zaporizhzhia: Occupied nuclear plant disconnected from grid - Ukraine
by bbc news
The final pair of working reactors at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant have been disconnected from Ukraine's power grid, the state nuclear agency says.
Nearby fires apparently interfered with overhead power lines, disconnecting the now Russian-controlled site from the national grid for the first time ever.
The plant continues to be powered by a local thermal plant, Energoatom added.
It comes amid growing concern over fighting near the complex, which is the largest nuclear plant in Europe.
Fires at a nearby thermal plant interfered with overhead power lines, Ukraine's state nuclear agency said on Thursday.
"As a result, the station's two working power units were disconnected from the network."
Three alternative lines into the plant had already been damaged by Russian shelling, the agency claimed in a post on Telegram.
Local officials reported that nearby radiation levels were normal and that work was under way to reconnect the reactors to the grid.
Normally the nuclear plant supplies one-fifth of Ukraine's total electricity - so its continued disconnection from the national grid would cause serious challenges for Ukraine.
he nuclear site has been occupied by Russian military forces since early March but continues to be operated by Ukrainian nuclear technicians.
The Kremlin has signalled it will allow international inspectors to visit the complex - but until that happens it is difficult to verify what is happening on the ground
According to Energoatom's statement, the site continues to receive power from a backup line connected to a nearby thermal plant.
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