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First power unit of Smolensk NPP shut down due to failure

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MOSCOW, May 27. /ITAR-TASS/. The first power unit of the Smolensk nuclear power plant (NPP) was shut down on Tuesday, the plant’s press service said, adding that the power unit will be reconnected to the power grid after a failure in the electric equipment is repaired.

The level of radiation inside and outside the NPP remained unchanged and meets the normal indicators.

The power unit No 2 is currently operating in compliance with the designated capacity. The third power unit's work is halted for planned maintenance.

The Smolensk nuclear power plant, located near the western border of Russia, in the Smolensk Region, is equipped with three uranium-graphite channel-type RBMK-1000 reactors. The generating capacity of each power unit is 1,000 megawatts. The Smolensk region’s average electricity production is about 20 billion kilovatt-hours, which is about 13% of the Rosenergoatom concern’s overall output, and more than 80% of electricity generated by energy companies of the Smolensk region.

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