IAEA warns of fragile nuclear safety after latest power loss at Zaporizhzhia plant

Vienna: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been informed that the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) on Friday lost its off-site power supply for the 21st time since the Ukraine crisis, underscoring the vulnerability of the plant’s nuclear safety.

The outage occurred after the plant lost its connection to the 330 kV Ferosplavna-1 transmission line, the IAEA said in its post on X.

According to the IAEA team stationed at the site, military activity triggered the electrical protection systems on transmission lines linking the ZNPP to the Ferosplavna-1 line.

Following the loss of off-site power, the plant’s emergency diesel generators automatically started operating to maintain electricity for reactor cooling systems and other essential nuclear safety functions, the IAEA said.

“The latest loss of off-site power again highlights the extreme fragility of nuclear safety at the plant and the need for maximum military restraint to help prevent a nuclear accident,” IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said.

Earlier on Thursday, Grossi condemned the drone attacks as “unacceptable” after they caused significant damage to a fire station supporting emergency response at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, reports Xinhua news agency.

According to an IAEA statement, the agency’s team at the plant confirmed significant damage to a fire station in the nearby city of Enerhodar. Grossi said the station plays an important role in supporting the plant’s emergency response capability.

During a visit to the site on Wednesday, the IAEA team observed damage to the building and several firefighting vehicles, which had largely undermined the station’s operational capacity.

The facility provides important backup support to the plant’s own fire brigade in the event of a large-scale emergency at the plant, the statement said.

“Any attack that undermines nuclear safety and emergency preparedness is unacceptable,” Grossi warned.

As one of Europe’s largest nuclear facilities, the power plant has repeatedly experienced disruptions of external power supply since the escalation of the Ukraine crisis.

IANS