Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Briefly Loses Power on 40th Chornobyl Anniversary
Power Loss Incident and Ongoing Safety Concerns
Brief Power Outage on Chornobyl Anniversary
April 30 (Reuters) - The Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine lost its external power links for an hour on the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster, the U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Thursday.
Details of the Power Disruption
External Links and Backup Systems
The International Atomic Energy Agency said the second of two external links, known as Ferosplavna, went down on April 26 and diesel generators immediately started up to keep power running to the plant, Europe's largest with six reactors.
The plant's main external link, Dniprovska, has been disconnected since late March. It was the 15th time the plant had lost all external power links since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Military Activity and Plant Safety
Russian troops seized the power station in the first weeks of the conflict. Each side has since regularly accused the other of initiating military action that could compromise safety at the plant, located near the war's front line.
International Response and Safety Measures
IAEA Statements and Actions
"Occurring as the world marked a sombre 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl accident, the frequent power loss events highlight the still precarious nuclear safety situation in Ukraine," IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said in a statement.
Efforts to Restore Power
The statement said the IAEA was trying to arrange a local ceasefire to reconnect the Dniprovska line, an operation complicated by the fact that damage occurred to overhead cables above the Dnipro River.
Ongoing Risks at the Plant
The plant generates no electricity but requires power to keep nuclear fuel on site from overheating.
(Reporting by Ron Popeski; Editing by Chris Reese)
