IAEA conducts expanded monitoring mission at Ukrainian power substations critical for NPP operations - regulator

MOSCOW. Oct 28 (Interfax) - A team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on October 21-27, 2024 continued work it started in September to assess the condition of power supply infrastructure elements critical for safe operations of Ukrainian nuclear power plants (NPP), Ukrainian media reported citing a statement by the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU) on Monday.

Over the past week, IAEA experts along with specialists from the Ukrainian national power grid operator Ukrenergo, the nuclear power plant operator Energoatom, and SNRIU visited power substations designated by the Ukrainian Energy Ministry as key ones to assess operational consequences of the damage caused to the power infrastructure through which electricity generated by NPPs is transmitted to consumers and through which NPPs are supplied themselves, it said.

During the mission's work, IAEA experts reviewed and documented damage caused to power substations, results of repairs, and the transmission capability of substations in their current configuration.

Reliable external power supply is of critical importance for NPP operations, SNRIU said. "The disablement of equipment of power substations causes considerable problems for the safety and security of NPPs because of rapid transition processes, which are marked by sudden substantial fluctuations in the power grid, require an immediate response from operators, and may lead to negative consequences for nuclear and radiation safety and security," SNRIU said.