At 3.41 a.m., the Zaporizhzhya NPP's unit 6 was disconnected from the power grid. Preparations are underway to cool it down and put it into a cold state, Energoatom has said.
It is noted that for the last three days, unit 6 has been working in island mode, feeding only the ZNPP's own needs at a critically low level (from 114 to 140MW), as Russian shelling damaged all communication lines between the Zaporizhzhya NPP and the Ukrainian power grid.
"Last night, after one of these communication lines was repaired, it became possible to feed the ZNPP's own needs from the Ukrainian power system. Consequently, a decision was made to shut down generating unit 6 and put it into the safest state - cold shutdown," the company explained.
If the lines connecting the plant to the power system fail again, the risk of which remains high, the ZNPP's own needs will be fed by diesel generators, the lifetime of which is limited by the technological resource and amount of diesel fuel.
Energoatom is taking all possible measures to organize the supply of additional batches of diesel fuel to the ZNPP.
"To prevent an emergency situation at the plant, Russia must stop to shell the lines connecting the ZNPP to the power system and a demilitarized zone must be created around it. After this, the communication lines can be repaired, ensuring the switch-on and subsequent safe operation of the ZNPP," Energoatom said.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi called for an immediate cessation of shelling around the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant and the creation of a nuclear safety and protection zone around the plant.