Ukrhydroenergo CEO predicts years of recovery for Dnipro HPP after Russian attack
Photo: Suspilne Zaporizhzhia
As a result of the Russian missile attack on the Dnipro hydroelectric plant in Zaporizhzhia, the energy system of Ukraine lost more than a thousand megawatts of power. Rescue services are currently sorting through the rubble of one of the station's engine rooms. Ukrhydroenergo [the biggest hydroelectric power generation company in Ukraine – ed.] notes that it will take years to restore Dnipro HPP.
General Director of PJSC Ukrhydroenergo Ihor Syrota told Suspilne about this.
He says that they are currently in the process of demolishing the debris, but it's been made more difficult by the shelling that caused the ceiling and walls to lean towards the station hall, with large beams reaching up to 30 meters in height. As a result, it's hard to predict when the recovery process will be completed:
"We already understand that Dnipro HPP has been taken out for a long time… It will take years, not days or months. Because more than six rockets just landed at HPP-2. Also, the bridge crossing and crane beams where the gates are located were damaged," the official said.
Ihor Syrota emphasized that before the Russian missiles hit, the Dnipro HPP was the most powerful station in Cascade on the Dnipro River, so after the impact, Ukraine's energy system lost more than a thousand megawatts:
"And, of course, you know we also lost last year when the HPP-1 was struck."
In addition to the engine room, other buildings were also destroyed, but the structure of the dam remained intact, the general director said:
"The Dnipro HPP dam itself has not been damaged to date; only the under-crane girders located on the dam itself and the overpass are broken. We will now try to restore the bridge and under-crane girders as soon as possible so the crane can open all gates."
For reference:
Earlier, Suspilne reported that the incident at the Dnipro HPP in Zaporizhzhia is not currently posing a threat of destruction. However, considering the water levels, measures must be taken to prevent a disaster as the consequences would be catastrophic.
Also, during Russia's mass attack, there were reports of 12 explosions in Zaporizhzhia on March 22. Several people were injured, seven houses were utterly destroyed, and dozens more were damaged. Specifically, the Russians targeted the Dnipro HPP. As a result, there was a risk of a power outage at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, as the line to the ZNPP has been de-energized.
In addition, due to enemy rockets hitting the Dnipro HPP in Zaporizhzhia, petroleum products leaked into the Dnipro River.
In the city, the area covered by demolition waste from the Dnipro HPP is:
- more than 7200 m² on Slavutych Street,
- more than 300 m² on Petro Sahaidachny Street (Borodynska).
Also, due to the consequences of the attack on the Dnipro hydroelectric plant, both its parts stopped producing electricity. Dnipro HPP-2 is in critical condition.
