Diesel Generators Keep Reactors Cool amid Power Outage
Heavy fighting in southern Ukraine has severed the main line feeding external electricity to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest. Now, diesel generators are the only thing keeping six Soviet-era reactors safely cooled.
Plant spokeswoman Yevgeniya Yashina reassured that staffers are well trained and that radiation levels remain normal. “The situation at the station is under control,” she said, highlighting the resilience of emergency protocols.
Russia’s installed management said backup power is holding for now, but blamed Ukrainian shelling for blocking repairs to the Dneprovskaya line. Ukraine, in turn, accused Russia of preventing restoration efforts.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi issued a stark warning: the plant has been without grid power for over a week—the longest outage since the war began. Without offsite electricity, “nuclear fuel could heat up, risking a meltdown,” he explained.
- Outage duration: over one week
- Reactors: six VVER-1000 units
- Emergency power: diesel generators
With all units shut down, experts say continuous power is essential to circulate cooling water around reactors and spent fuel. Grossi urged both sides to prioritize safe repairs and restore offsite power immediately.
The Zaporizhzhia crisis underscores the fragility of nuclear safety in conflict zones and raises pressing questions for global energy security. As tensions persist, the international community watches closely, hoping a stable solution emerges before systems fail.
Reference(s):
Russia says external power needed for Ukraine nuclear power plant
cgtn.com
