State firm says Ukraine nuclear plant delinked from grid

By Sibel Morrow

ANKARA (AA) - Ukraine's state nuclear power company Energoatom said on Thursday two operating units of the power plant were disconnected from the grid for the first time in the history of the plant.

According to a statement on the company's website, the fourth transmission line connecting the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant (ZNPP) with the power system of Ukraine was cut-off twice due to fires next to the ZNPP.

The company noted that three out of the four transmission lines had been damaged earlier by Russian shelling.

Energoatom said the Ukrainian power system is currently supplying the power plant's in-house energy needs via the ZNPP-Zaporizhzhya TPP transmission line.

Start-up operations are underway to connect one of the power units to the grid, it said.

-Among world's 10 largest nuclear power plants

The Zaporizhzhia NPP, which was built between 1984 and 1995, is the largest in Europe, and also among the world's 10 largest nuclear power plants.

Located in the southeastern Ukraine near the city of Enerhodar, the Zaporizhzhia NPP generates 20% of Ukraine's electricity.

With six reactors, each of which has a net capacity of 950 megawatts, can supply energy to nearly 4 million households with a total electricity production of 5700 megawatts.

Following the night-long clashes with Ukrainian forces, the plant is now under control of Russian forces.