Grossi says repeated power outages at Zaporizhia nuclear power plant ‘represent a serious challenge’

MADRID 4 Oct. () –

The director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, stated this Thursday that the “repeated” power outages at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, in the area of ​​Ukraine under the control of Russian military forces, ” represent a serious challenge.”

Since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, this plant has been left without external power supply eight times, “which has forced it to temporarily rely” on emergency diesel generators for electricity. “This week, has lost connection to its only backup power line for 36 hours, “highlighting the fragility of the electrical supplies it needs.”

“The disconnection this Tuesday morning of the 330 kilovolt line once again left the plant totally dependent on its only 750kV line. Before the conflict, it had four 750kV lines and six 330kV lines available, which highlights how nuclear security has seriously deteriorated,” reads a statement from the organization.

Grossi stated that “the external energy situation continues to be a deep source of concern”, since “the loss this week of the power line shows that the situation is not improving in this sense, but on the contrary.” The day before, an IAEA team visited the electrical substation located in the city of Enerhodar, where most of the plant’s staff live, after receiving information about an alleged artillery attack on Sunday.

There, the team confirmed that one of the substation’s two transformers was destroyed by the bombing and that the other transformer had not been available since June due to damage to one of its power lines. This substation had been used to provide backup power to Enerhodar and the industrial area near the plant.

Additionally, the nuclear power plant reported that the same bombing had damaged another nearby power line. The damage limits the availability of potential backup power supplies for the nuclear power plant. Currently, the repair is underway. The IAEA team has explained that there have been explosions almost every day, including several near the site.