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Russia to create backup power source at Zaporozhye NPP — Rosatom

Rosatom said an external source of power is key for the safety of any nuclear power plant

MOSCOW, November 25. /TASS/. Rosatom is starting to rebuild the outdoor switchgear at the Zaporozhye NPP to create a backup power supply source for the plant, Rosatom said on Friday.

"Given the great importance of backup power supply for nuclear safety at the Zaporozhye NPP, especially during winter, we have made a decision to commence the restoration of the outdoor switchgear of the Zaporozhye NPP, despite the direct threat to the lives of the employees that will be engaged in that work," the company said in a statement on Telegram.

Rosatom said an external source of power is key for the safety of any nuclear power plant because in the event of an interruption of external power supply the plant could rely only on diesel-powered electric generators that would run for as long as they have fuel.

"Currently, electricity to the Zaporozhye NPP is supplied through two high-voltage lines from the Ukrainian side, which, as the events of recent weeks show, are regularly, and usually simultaneously, turned off. The shutdown of these lines has repeatedly prompted the Zaporozhye NPP to switch to emergency diesel-powered electric generators as the source of energy," the statement said.

Rosatom said the problem will be resolved by the restoration of the high-voltage switchgear that had been destroyed as a result of shelling and is located near the plant.