Ukrainian nuclear power plants largely restored after enemy attacks
This was stated by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi
Ukraine’s three operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyi, Rivne and Yuzhnoukrainska – have largely resumed electricity production after a sharp reduction in capacity last week, following military strikes on November 28 that affected energy infrastructure essential for nuclear safety.
The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi announced this on December 5.
He reported that out of the nine reactors at the Khmelnytskyi, Rivne and South Ukraine nuclear power plants, eight are currently operating, while one is shut down. Over the past week, most of them have gradually increased their output again, although some units did not operate at full capacity for several days after the military strikes on November 28.
At the same time, the director general noted that some external power lines connected to the nuclear power plants remain disconnected.
"A stable power grid that provides reliable external power is essential for ensuring nuclear safety at Ukraine's operating nuclear power plants, which are vital for generating the electricity the country needs, especially during the cold winter months. Operators have demonstrated significant resilience during and after this latest period of grid instability, so these plants can maintain nuclear safety and generate electricity after last week's production cuts," said Rafael Grossi.
Therefore, he stressed that the IAEA will continue to closely monitor the nuclear safety situation, including with further visits of experts to the electrical substations on which the nuclear power plants depend.
According to him, the IAEA teams at the Khmelnytskyi, Rivne and South Ukrainian nuclear power plants, as well as at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, reported that nuclear safety at these facilities is currently maintained despite frequent air alerts.
As "Ukrainian Energy" reported, after another massive Russian attack on Ukrainian energy infrastructure on November 17 and 28, which further jeopardized nuclear safety, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated that the country's three operating nuclear power plants had reduced electricity production.
