Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant in Critical Safety State Amid Power Loss, Energoatom Warns
Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant has been running on backup diesel generators since losing external power on August 20, with operator Energoatom warning of a critical nuclear safety situation. The company says the ongoing crisis reflects systematic breaches of basic nuclear safety principles.
The occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is in a critical nuclear and radiation safety condition due to a prolonged loss of external power supply, Ukraine's state nuclear operator Energoatom has reported.
Since August 20, the plant has received no electricity from Ukraine's power grid and has switched to backup diesel generators for the 27th time since the start of the full-scale invasion. Energoatom said the situation reflects a systematic undermining of fundamental nuclear safety principles.
Growing risks
Prolonged reliance on backup power sources raises the risk of so-called common cause failure, one of the most serious safety concerns at nuclear plants. Frequent startups and load-switching of equipment increase the likelihood of failures in automation and other systems. Even with all reactor units in "cold shutdown" mode, a total loss of power could result in losing control over critical safety systems and spent fuel storage pools.
On September 5, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said a local ceasefire was needed to allow restoration of the plant's external power supply.
Energoatom stressed that safe operation of the plant can only be guaranteed once Russian military and civilian personnel are withdrawn, the plant is returned to the control of a licensed operator, and main and backup power lines from Ukraine's grid are restored.
Prolonged occupation
Zaporizhzhia NPP, Europe's largest nuclear power plant, is located in the city of Enerhodar. Russian forces seized it in March 2022 at the start of the full-scale invasion, and the plant has since been militarized, with Russian troops and equipment stationed on its grounds while Ukrainian staff are forced to work under occupation.
Over the years the plant has suffered several serious incidents, including shelling that damaged power lines, landmines found in its security zone, drone strikes on equipment, and a fire in a cooling tower. In early September, the plant also experienced its longest power outage of the war, running on backup generators for more than a week.
