The Russian missile attack on the Dnipro Hydroelectric Power Plant in Zaporizhzhia on the morning of 22 March resulted in two direct hits on the facility’s HPP-1 and HPP-2, causing serious damage. Ihor Syrota, CEO of Ukrhydroenergo, a Ukrainian state-owned enterprise overseeing many major hydroelectric power plants along the Dnipro and Dniester rivers, reported this to Radio Liberty.
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According to him, HPP-2 is in critical condition, and HPP-1 is also out of service. He noted that one support was hit, and crane beams were broken. Ihor Syrota stated that HPP-2 has suffered serious damage, and it is unknown whether it will be possible to restore it. The official emphasized that power engineers will have to completely rebuild the engine room and electrical equipment.
“We will calculate the consequences during the day and understand what happened. And whether HPP-2 will be able to operate – either in a limited mode or not at all for a certain period,” said the head of Ukrhydroenergo.
The Dnipro Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) is the first hydroelectric plant constructed on the Dnipro River and serves as the penultimate stage of the Dnipro cascade of hydroelectric power plants. Situated in the Dniprovskyi district of Zaporizhzhia, the plant had an installed capacity of 1578.6 MW as of January 2022. The Dnipro HPP comprises two power stations, namely Dnipro HPP-1 and Dnipro HPP-2, which together form a unified complex positioned under a single dam in Zaporizhzhia. Dnipro HPP-1 is equipped with 10 hydraulic units, while Dnipro HPP-2 has eight.
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