Ukrainian nuclear plant once again with power after recent breakdown

Another power failure at nuclear power plant Zaporizhzhia prompts the International Atomic Energy Agency to call for action.
Even though the power plant's six reactors were turned off, they still needed constant power to stay cool, thus avoid meltdown. | Photo: Andrey Borodulin
Even though the power plant's six reactors were turned off, they still needed constant power to stay cool, thus avoid meltdown. | Photo: Andrey Borodulin
by ritzau, translated by christian radich hoffman

The Ukrainian nuclear power plant Zaporizhzhia, which is Europe’s largest, once again has power after yet another power failure Monday morning, states Ukrainian power operator Ukrenergo.

“‘Ukrenergo’ restored the power transmission line that supplies the Zaporizhzhia NPP. The station is switching to power supply from the Ukrainian power system,” the company writes in a statement, according to Reuters.

Late Monday morning, the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that the power plant had lost its connection to the power grid.

Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia ”this morning lost all external electricity for seventh time during conflict,” Rafael Grossi, director general of the IAEA, wrote on Twitter.

”Nuclear safety situation at the plant extremely vulnerable. We must agree to protect plant now; this situation cannot continue,” he concluded.

The plant had to use its diesel-powered emergency generators before reestablishing its grid connection.

Even though the power plant’s six reactors were shut down, they still need a constant influx of electricity to keep cool and avoid a meltdown.

During the war in Ukraine, Russia has assumed control of the power plant.

Both Russia and Ukraine have alleged that the other party is involved in Monday’s power outage.

Russia claims that Ukrainians have disconnected a power cable while Ukraine claims the disconnection is due to Russian shootings.

According to Reuters, there have been reports of a possible culprit in an onsite fire.

The nuclear power plant is located in southeastern Ukraine, near the cities of Mykolaiv and Mariupol. It resides in the region that is likewise named Zaporizhzhia.

The region is one of four Ukrainian regions, also known as ”oblasts,” that have declared Russian allegiance after referenda.

The three other ones are Donetsk, Kherson, and Luhansk. Compiled, the four oblasts make up 15% of Ukraine’s territory.

Ukraine and its allies in the West have disregarded and condemned the Russian referenda.

The Zaporizhzhia plant normally accounts for a fifth of Ukraine’s annual electricity production. Prior to the invasion, it had about 11,000 employees.

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