IAEA warns of power outage at occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant

The Russian-occupied Ukrainian Zaporizhia nuclear power plant has been cut off from external power for more than a week, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The plant is currently being supplied with emergency diesel generators, said IAEA boss Rafael Grossi.

The existing diesel supply was temporarily only sufficient for around ten days, before several dozen tons of diesel were delivered from an external warehouse in the last two days, it said. "The current situation once again illustrates why a reliable external power supply and secure supply routes are essential for nuclear safety and security," said Grossi.

Without the restoration of external power or additional diesel supplies in the near future, the power plant could face a complete blackout within about ten days. The power plant had just received a delivery of diesel from a warehouse. Another warehouse located outside the power plant has not been supplied for around six months.

IAEA struggles for ceasefire zone

According to the IAEA, the external power supply failed due to hostilities on the north side of the Dnipro River. Agency officials were working to establish a localized ceasefire zone to allow repairs to a key power line, the IAEA said. If successful, these repairs would restore external power to the nuclear power plant.

Just on Friday, the IAEA reported three drone incidents within a few days on the power plant site. Two employees were injured. According to reports, one drone exploded on the site of a dry storage facility for spent nuclear fuel, and another hit a sprinkler system.

The Zaporizhia nuclear power plant is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. The Russian army captured the power plant in March 2022. Its six reactors have been shut down since 2022 but still require electricity for their cooling and safety systems. Before the start of the Ukrainian War, ten external power lines supplied the power plant. The facility is located near the front on the Dnipro River. IAEA teams have been on site continuously since September 2022.