IAEA warns of escalating nuclear risk at Zaporizhzhia as power loss drags on

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has expressed grave concern over the continued loss of external power at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, warning that the situation is unsustainable and poses a serious risk to nuclear safety.

The plant, Europe’s largest, has now been disconnected from the national grid for more than a week—the longest such period since the outset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Reuters reports.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated that while there is currently no immediate danger due to the operation of emergency diesel generators, the loss of offsite power cannot be maintained indefinitely without risking a nuclear incident.

“Europe’s largest nuclear power plant has been without external power for more than a week now, which is by far the longest lasting such event during more than three and a half years of war,” Grossi noted.

The Zaporizhzhia facility, located approximately 500 kilometres from the site of the 1986 Chornobyl disaster, requires constant power to circulate cooling water for its reactors and spent fuel pools. Although all six reactors are currently shut down and not producing electricity, the residual heat from the nuclear fuel must be continuously managed to avoid overheating.

“The current status of the reactor units and spent fuel is stable as long as the emergency diesel generators are able to provide sufficient power to maintain essential safety-related functions and cooling,” Grossi said. “It is extremely important that offsite power is restored.”

Grossi confirmed that the IAEA is maintaining direct contact with both Ukrainian and Russian authorities, urging both sides to facilitate the urgent repairs needed to reconnect the plant to the grid. The ongoing military activity in the vicinity of the site has reportedly prevented technicians from carrying out essential work.

“While the plant is currently coping thanks to its emergency diesel generators – the last line of defence – and there is no immediate danger as long as they keep working, it is clearly not a sustainable situation in terms of nuclear safety,” Grossi emphasized.

He further revealed that eight diesel generators are currently operating, with nine in standby mode and three undergoing maintenance. The plant has experienced a total of ten disconnections from the grid since the war began.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy echoed these concerns in a strongly worded statement, accusing Russia of jeopardizing nuclear safety through its actions at the plant.

“This is a threat to everyone. No terrorist in the world has ever dared to do with a nuclear power plant what Russia is doing now. And it is right that the world not remain silent,” Zelenskyy stated.

The Zaporizhzhia plant was seized by Russian forces in the early stages of the 2022 invasion and has remained under Russian control since. Both Ukraine and Russia have traded accusations over attacks in and around the site, each blaming the other for compromising its security.

While Russian officials have not commented on the latest warnings, the IAEA has reiterated its call for both parties to respect international nuclear safety protocols. IAEA monitors remain stationed at Zaporizhzhia, as well as at Ukraine’s three other nuclear facilities, to provide continuous oversight amid the ongoing conflict.

“I strongly encourage both sides to work with us and enable these essential repairs to take place,” Grossi said.

By Vafa Guliyeva