After Russian strike, only two of nine reactors at Ukrainian NPPs operating at 100% capacity – IAEA
Ukraine's operating NPPs reduced their electricity production on Sunday morning as a precaution against a massive combined Russian shelling aimed at energy infrastructure, which further worsened nuclear safety, said Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
"Although the NPPs - Khmelnytsky, Rivne and Pivdennoukrainsk – were not directly impacted and did not shut down, several electrical substations on which they depend suffered further damage during the strikes... The main power lines from four of the substations were disconnected. At the moment, only two of the country’s nine operational reactors currently generate electricity at 100 percent capacity," the agency reported on its website.
It is specified that of the nine reactors of the three NPPs currently operating, six reduced their capacity in the morning hours - from just over 40% of their maximum capacity to over 90%. All NPPs continued to receive power from an external source.
It is indicated that the main power lines from four substations were disconnected.
Grossi discussed the consequences of the Russian strike with the head of the national regulator of Ukraine, and now the issue of the need for another inspection of the substations by IAEA teams will be decided. The head of the agency recalled that his employees visited seven substations located outside the NPPs across the country in September-October to assess the damage from the attacks in August.
It is specified that the IAEA teams located at the NPP heard the air defense system working, and at the Khmelnytsky NPP, the agency team heard a loud explosion. At the Rivne NPP, two 330 kV power lines were unavailable.
"The country’s energy infrastructure is extremely vulnerable, directly impacting nuclear safety and security. We are still assessing the full extent of the damage. At this critical time, I reiterate the importance of adhering to the seven indispensable pillars for nuclear safety and security during the conflict, in particular pillar four that states there must be a secure off-site power supply from the grid for all nuclear sites," Director General Grossi said.
