Background and Relevance of the Central Nuclear Plant in Zaporiyzhia
The Central Nuclear Plant in Zaporiyzhia, Ukraine, is the largest nuclear power station in Europe. Although it is not currently operational, it still requires energy to maintain cooling for its nuclear fuel. The plant’s six reactors are currently shut down, but the spent fuel inside must be continuously cooled to prevent overheating and potential disaster.
Recent Power Disruption
On Friday, all external power lines supplying energy to the occupied plant were cut off for several hours, according to the UN nuclear regulatory body. However, the plant’s local authorities later reported that power supply had been restored.
German Galuschenko, Ukraine’s Energy Minister, announced on Telegram that a Russian attack had left the plant without power. He stated, “The enemy struck the power line connecting the temporarily occupied (Zaporiyzhia Nuclear Power Plant) to Ukraine’s integrated electricity system.”
Response and Current Status
The plant’s electricity distribution operator confirmed that their technicians took measures to restore the power supply.
Following the disruption, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that the plant had lost all external power “for the ninth time during the military conflict and first time since late 2023.”
The plant is currently operating on diesel generators, as per the IAEA’s update. The agency has repeatedly warned of the risk of a catastrophic accident at Zaporiyzhia, located near the front lines of Ukraine’s war.
Official Statements
The plant’s management, based in Russia, issued a Telegram statement claiming that high-voltage power lines had been restored.
Their statement asserted that there were no disruptions in the plant’s operations, no violations of safety procedures, and no unusual increase in background radiation levels above normal.
Key Questions and Answers
- What happened to the Zaporiyzhia Nuclear Plant? A temporary power outage occurred after Russian forces cut external power lines, leaving the plant without energy for several hours.
- Who reported the incident? Ukraine’s Energy Minister, German Galuschenko, announced the power outage on Telegram.
- How was the situation resolved? The plant’s electricity distribution operator took measures to restore power, and diesel generators are currently maintaining operations.
- What is the current status of the plant’s safety? The IAEA has warned of the ongoing risk of a catastrophic accident at Zaporiyzhia, emphasizing the precarious nature of nuclear safety in Ukraine.
- What did the plant’s management say? The plant’s Russian-based management reported that power lines had been restored and claimed no disruptions or safety violations occurred.
