KIEV, June 22: The only functioning reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear plant was restarted today and will gradually be brought to full capacity, officials said.Chernobyl's number 3 reactor was shut down on June 16 for repairs linked to an unspecified malfunction in one of its turbine generators. Plant officials said there were no radiation leaks.
The reactor was restarted before dawn today, said the state Energoatom company, which runs Ukraine's nuclear power plants.
Chernobyl's number 4 reactor was destroyed in a 1986 explosion and fire, the world's worst nuclear accident. Another reactor was shut down after being badly damaged by a 1991 fire, and a third is not operational. Reactor no. 3, which has been undergoing repairs since last July, was restarted in mid-May.
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