Ukraine’s Zaporizhia nuclear power plant was reconnected to the electricity grid on Friday. Ukrainian operator Energoatom made the announcement after the site suffered a disconnection on Thursday.
“One of the reactors of the Zaporijjia power plant shut down the day before was reconnected to the electricity grid today” at 2:04 p.m. (1:04 p.m. Paris time), Energoatom announced on Telegram messaging, while ensuring that its security systems are working. normally. The reconnected reactor “produces electricity for the needs of Ukraine”, added the operator. ” The raise of (at) power is in progress”. “The employees of the Zaporizhia plant are real heroes” who ensure “the nuclear security of Ukraine and of the whole of Europe”, the group further declared.
Ukraine announced on Thursday that the Zaporizhia power plant in the eponymous region in the south of the country has been “completely disconnected” from the electricity grid, “for the first time in its history”, after power lines were damaged. .
An inspection mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency
With six reactors with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts each, this plant fell into the hands of Russian troops in March. For weeks, Moscow and kyiv, the Russian and Ukrainian capitals, have accused each other of several bombings that targeted this plant, raising fears of a nuclear disaster. The UN, the United Nations, has called for the establishment of a demilitarized zone around the plant to guarantee its security and to allow the dispatch of an international inspection mission.
An inspection mission from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is expected on site “next week”, said Thursday evening the adviser to the Minister of Energy, Lana Zerkal, quoted by the media. The safety of Zaporijjia, located near the front line, and the risk of a nuclear accident in the event of a bombardment are worrying international leaders. “Civilian nuclear power must not be an instrument of war,” French President Emmanuel Macron pleaded on Friday.