By Tony O ‘Reilly-
The final pair of working reactors at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant were cut off from Ukraine’s power grid on Thursday, Kyiv officials say.
The power to the Russian-controlled site was eventually restored after sparking much alarm.
AD: Capeesh Restaurant
Ukraine’s nuclear agency attributed the problem to nearby fires that damaged overhead electricity lines.
Ukraine warned that Russia was planning to disconnect the plant in a potentially risky effort to divert it to the Russian grid. A disruption in the supply of electricity to the plant could also knock out cooling systems that are essential for the safe operation of the reactors, while emergency diesel generators are sometimes unreliable.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, said he hoped to send a mission to the plant within “days.”
AD: Oysterian Sea Food Restaurant And Bar
There has been growing concern over the intense fighting near the complex, the largest nuclear plant in Europe. Analysts also say that the strong rhetoric in the media highlighting the continuous supply of weapons has contributed to the intensification of the war in Ukraine.
The West expressed a unified front in its condemnation of the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine, and imposed sanctions on several Russian Oligarchs and any persons known to be benefiting from Putin’s regime or with the capability and likelihood of supporting his war financially. Those sanctions were necessary to express joint resistance against Russia, to prevent it from growing wide wings. After Russia Annexed Crimea with no opposition from the West, Putin was running wild unrestrained.
The EU and its alliance together with NATO stood together against Ukraine, but the continuous supply of weapons to Ukraine has repeatedly been met with threats from Putin and his multiple official and unofficial spokespersons.
Fighting has continued to be fierce and deadly. The developments today could spell future disaster.
Ukraine’s state nuclear agency today said fires from the nearby nuclear plant had interfered with the lines.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned that having “a secure off-site power supply from the grid is essential for ensuring nuclear safety”.
Satellite images taken on Wednesday showed an extensive fire burning in the immediate vicinity of the nuclear complex. Radiation levels nearby remained normal despite the Zaporizhzhia nuclear complex losing its main power supply, local officials reported.
The plant “remained connected to a 330kV line from the nearby thermal power facility that can provide back-up electricity if needed,” the IAEA said in a statement, citing Ukraine’s state nuclear agency.
Ukraine’s Nuclear State Agency added that all six nuclear reactor units remained disconnected from the power grid despite the line having been restored later on Thursday.
Ukraine has warned that Russia was planning to disconnect the plant in a potentially risky effort to divert it to the Russian grid. A disruption in the supply of electricity to the plant could also knock out cooling systems that are essential for the safe operation of the reactors, while emergency diesel generators are sometimes unreliable.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, said he hoped to send a mission to the plant within “days.”
The nuclear plant supplies one-fifth of Ukraine’s total electricity, its continued disconnection from the national grid will inevitably come at a high cost for Ukraine.
The nuclear site has been occupied by Russian military forces since early March but is operated by Ukrainian nuclear technicians.
“Almost every day there is a new incident at or near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. We can’t afford to lose any more time,” IAEA director general Rafael Grossi said in a statement, repeating his call to lead an international mission to the plant in the next few days.
Energy experts worry that some of the site’s safety mechanisms could fail if the complex loses all power.
Separately, local media is reporting that nearby towns have lost electricity supplies after Russian officials switched off power to many parts of the occupied Zaporizhzhia region.
Reports of power cuts in the Russian-occupied cities of Melitopol and Kherson are very worrying.
The outages comes amid claims by Ukraine that Russian forces are trying to disconnect the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant from the Ukrainian power grid in order to reconnected to the Russian one instead, through Crimea.
There are serious fears that the fighting near the plant could have catastrophic effects on Ukraine if they continue.
AD: Heritage And Restaurant Lounge Bar