Massive Power Outage in Southern Russia as Rostov Nuclear Plant Malfunctions

A significant power outage at the Rostov Nuclear Power Plant on July 16, 2024, has triggered widespread electricity disruptions across southern Russia, affecting millions of residents and prompting authorities to implement temporary consumption restrictions. The incident occurred when one of the plant’s power blocks automatically shut down due to turbine generator malfunctions.In response to the crisis, the Russian Ministry of Energy swiftly introduced temporary electricity consumption restrictions, initially limiting usage by 1.5 GW to maintain grid stability. As the situation evolved, these restrictions were later reduced by 500 MW. The power outage has impacted numerous major cities and regions, including Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar, Taganrog, Elista, Anapa, Armavir, Novorossiysk, and even extended to occupied Crimea and Sevastopol.The Rostov Nuclear Power Plant, which supplies electricity to the entire Southern Federal District with a population of over 26 million people, saw its first energy block shut down at 15:21 MSK. While energy blocks 2 and 4 continue to operate normally, block 3 has been undergoing planned repairs since June 22.The power outage has led to significant disruptions in affected areas. In Krasnodar, over 100 power substations were shut down, affecting around 150 traffic lights and suspending tram and trolleybus services. Reports indicate that some areas are experiencing rolling blackouts, with power being cycled on and off every two hours.Despite the extensive impact, both the Ministry of Energy and Rosatom, the Russian State Nuclear Energy Corporation, have assured that radiation levels at the plant remain normal. However, the incident has raised concerns about the stability of the region’s energy infrastructure, particularly given the context of high temperatures and increased energy demand.

Key points

• A major power outage occurred at the Rostov Nuclear Power Plant, affecting millions in southern Russia.
• The Russian Ministry of Energy implemented temporary electricity consumption restrictions of 1.

5 GW, later reduced by 500 MW.

• The outage impacted major cities and regions, including occupied Crimea and Sevastopol.
• Authorities assure that radiation levels at the plant remain normal despite the malfunction.

Contradictions👾While most sources report widespread outages affecting millions, the УНИАН source describes the outage as affecting ‘hundreds of thousands’ rather than millions of users.