IAEA warns of nuclear risk as Zaporizhzhya turns to diesel generators

Vienna [Austria], October 2: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expressed concern on Wednesday over the prolonged power outage at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in Ukraine.
"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," IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said in a statement.
"I'm in constant contact with the two sides with the aim to enable the plant's swift re-connection to the electricity grid."
The Zaporizhzhya plant was seized by Russian troops shortly after the 2022 invasion. The facility's six reactors were shut down last year due to ongoing fighting. But it needs electricity to maintain critical safety functions, like cooling its reactors.
Cooling is currently being ensured by eight diesel generators, Grossi said.
"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," he said.
According to the plant management installed by Moscow, diesel reserves will last for about 10 more days.
High-voltage line cut since September 23 Grossi said that the last high-voltage line supplying Zaporizhzhya went out of service on September 23. Due to fighting near the plant, both Russia and Ukraine have been unable to repair the lines.
Ukraine's Energy Ministry called on the country's international partners to pressure Russia to return the plant to Ukrainian control.
Source: Qatar Tribune