Nuclear station relying on emergency generators and situation remains ‘very serious’
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director-general Rafael Grossi is discussing detailed proposals with Russia and Ukraine on how to restore offsite power to the Russia-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, which has relied on emergency back-up electricity for the past 10 days, the agency said.
All six Zaporizhzhia reactor units have been in cold shutdown since September 2022, but they still require a constant supply of electricity to cool residual reactor core activity and spent fuel pools.
Grossi said both sides had expressed readiness to carry out necessary repairs on their respective sides of the frontline, but that improved security conditions were needed to allow technicians to work safely.
“I’m in continuous contact with senior Russian and Ukrainian officials to achieve this important objective as soon as possible,” Grossi said.
Zaporizhzhia lost its last remaining 750-kV power line on 23 September following damage caused by military activity. It is the longest loss of offsite power suffered by the plant since the start of the conflict.
Eight emergency diesel generators are currently supplying 20-22 MW of electricity to maintain critical cooling functions, with fuel reserves sufficient for at least 10 days, said the IAEA.
The agency said another 12 generators are ready on standby and fuel is being delivered daily to the nuclear station site.
For now, the site’s emergency diesel generators are functioning without problems and there is also “plenty” of fuel in reserve, Grossi said.
He said the situation is “very serious” despite the stable operation of backup systems. “It is a nuclear safety issue, and it is in everybody’s interest to fix it,” Grossi said.
“I am calling on both sides to do what is necessary to prevent a further deterioration. It is a question of political will, not whether it is technically possible, which it is.”
The IAEA team on site reported no rise in coolant temperature or radiation levels.
