Europe’s largest nuclear plant has been without external power for over a week
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine has been without offsite power for more than a week and is still relying on emergency diesel generators to maintain safety systems, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said.
The agency said on Wednesday that this has been the longest such event since the start of the war in Ukraine on 24 February 2024.
The six-unit Zaporizhzhia lost its last remaining 750 kV power line on 23 September after it was damaged by military activity about 1.5 km from the site.
Eight diesel generators are now operating, with further units in standby or maintenance. The plant said it has personnel and spare parts to repair the damaged line but cannot access the area because of military activity in the area.
All six units at Zaporizhzhia have been in cold shutdown mode since September 2022, but they still require a constant supply of electricity to cool residual reactor core activity and spent fuel pools.
IAEA director-general Rafael Grossi said he is in “constant contact” with both Russia and Ukraine to enable repairs and reconnection of the plant’s electricity lines “as soon as possible”.
“While the plant is currently coping thanks to its emergency diesel generators, the last line of defence, it is clearly not a sustainable situation in terms of nuclear safety. Neither side would benefit from a nuclear accident,” Grossi warned.
According to the IAEA, Ukraine has also said it is ready to restore a backup 330 kV line that has been disconnected since May, but military conditions have so far prevented this.
The IAEA team at the ZNPP confirmed that radiation levels remain normal, cooling water supplies are intact, and fuel reserves are sufficient for at least 10 days of generator operation, with regular deliveries continuing.
Zaporizhzhia station fell under Russian military occupation in March 2022, days after the start of Russia’s incursion into Ukraine on 24 February.
Both sides have blamed each other for military activity around Zaporizhzhia. Earlier this week, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the situation at the station is “critical” accusing Russia of “terrorism.”
