IAEA says blackout ‘longest yet’, confirms radiation safety maintained at all sites
Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station (ZNPP) has been without external electricity for more than 48 hours, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said, in what has become the longest of the plant’s ten complete losses of off-site power since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began.
The agency said late on 25 September that the Russia-occupied plant continued to rely on emergency diesel generators to cool its six reactors, all in cold shutdown, and maintain essential safety functions.
Zaporizhzhia, Europe’s largest nuclear power station, lost its last remaining 750 kV external power line at 16:56 local time on Tuesday. Before the conflict, the plant had ten external lines.
The IAEA said that the plant has enough diesel reserves to operate 18 generators for almost 20 days, with refuelling continuing when conditions permit.
Radiation levels on and around the site remain normal, the IAEA confirmed, with both plant monitoring systems and independent agency measurements showing no change. Spare parts and personnel are ready to repair damaged lines once the military situation allows.
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.
Drone Incident At South Ukraine Nuclear Plant
The IAEA also said a drone incident occurred near the South Ukraine nuclear power station, underlining what IAEA director-general Rafael Grossi called the “extremely fragile” nuclear safety situation in the Ukraine.
According to an IAEA team at South Ukraine, 22 unmanned aerial vehicles were observed overnight within the plant’s monitoring zone, some as close as 500 metres. One drone was downed around 800 metres from the site, leaving a crater about four square metres wide and damaging nearby structures and vehicles.
The agency said A 150 kV regional power line was also hit, though it was not connected to the nuclear facility.
There was no direct impact on nuclear safety, and no casualties were reported, the IAEA said.
“Once again drones are flying far too close to nuclear power plants, putting nuclear safety at risk. Fortunately, last night’s incident did not result in any damage to the South Ukraine nuclear power plant itself,” Mr Grossi said.
“I continue to urge both sides to show maximum military restraint around all important nuclear facilities,” the UN diplomat said.
“Next time we may not be so lucky,” he warned.
