The ZNPP suffered a complete loss of power outside the site on September 23 after military activity in the neighborhood, marking the tenth time this happened since Russia launched its large -scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
“The largest nuclear power plant in Europe has been without external energy for more than a week, which is With much, the most durable event for more than three and a half years of war“Said the general director of the OIEA, Rafael Mariano Grossi.
He is currently operating with emergency energy that “it is clearly not a sustainable situation in terms of nuclear safety,” he said, adding that “none of the parties would benefit from a nuclear accident.”
Last damaged electric line
The ZNPP has been under Russian control since the first weeks of the conflict and both parties have accused the other of the attacks that endanger the plant.
The last energy cut outside the site occurred last Tuesday afternoon when the only remaining energy line was damaged by military activity about 1.5 km away.
Emergency diesel generators (EDG) were automatically activated to supply the necessary power for safety systems and to cool the six reactors and spent fuel.
The ZNPP currently operates eight EDG. Nine additional units are in waiting mode and three are in maintenance. Operations EDG alternate some of the inactive ones and guarantee continuous availability.
Repair efforts hindered
According to reports, the plant has the personnel and spare parts necessary to repair the electricity line, but this has not yet happened due to the nearby military activity.
Ukraine has expressed his willingness to repair an electric backup line that has been disconnected since the beginning of May, but the military situation has also prevented this from happening.
ZNPP reactors have closed for more than three years, resulting in the cooling of nuclear fuel and reducing the amount of radioactive material in the fuel.
As a result, the nuclear safety situation is not as dangerous as it would have been if the plant was still generating electricity, said the OIEA.
However, in the case of a complete blackout without energy outside the site or emergency, nuclear fuel could melt if the power could not be restored in time, so mobile diesel generators are also available.
Avoid a nuclear accident
“The current status of reactor units and spent fuel is stable provided that emergency diesel generators can provide sufficient power to maintain functions and cooling related to essential security,” said Grossi.
“However, it is extremely important to restore power outside the site,” he added.
“As I have repeatedly said, a nuclear accident is not of interest and all efforts should be made to prevent that from happening.”
The general director of the OIEA, Rafael Mariano Grossi (center) visited the Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant in Ukraine in September 2022.
Development monitoring
The OIEA has maintained a presence in the ZNNP since September 2022.
Your team continues to monitor the situation closely, receiving more frequent nuclear safety updates from the plant, including water cooling temperatures.
“According to plant information, we can conclude that emergency diesel generators have reliably provide the necessary power to cool nuclear fuel in reactor nuclei and spent fuel pools,” Grossi said.
The OIEA team was also informed that the plant has fuel reserves for more than 10 days of operation.
Radiation monitoring continues to demonstrate that there has not been an increase above normal levels, both inside and outside the site.