The connection of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) to its main power line was restored today in an important step for nuclear safety and security at the site. However, the overall situation remains precarious amid the ongoing military conflict, as several of the country’s operating reactors had to reduce output following overnight attacks on the electrical grid.

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The ZNPP, whose six reactors remain in cold shutdown, lost the connection to its 750 kilovolt (kV) Dniprovska power line on Friday evening. Following repairs carried out approximately 16 kilometres from the plant, the line was restored this morning, giving the plant renewed access to two off-site power lines, including also the 330 kV Ferosplavna-1 line. Access to off-site power is essential for reactor cooling and other essential safety functions.

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In late October, a month-long loss of all off-site power at the ZNPP was resolved thanks to repairs conducted on both sides of the frontline under the protection of IAEA-brokered localized and temporary ceasefires. However, the subsequent disconnection of the 750 kV line was yet another reminder of the extremely fragile external power situation during the conflict.

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“I once again call for the full compliance, at all times, with the IAEA’s Five Concrete Principles. It is of paramount importance that a nuclear accident at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant is prevented,” Director General Grossi said in his opening statement to this week’s meeting of the Board of Governors.

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The precarious nuclear safety and security situation during the conflict was underlined at Ukraine’s three operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) today, with four of their total of nine reactors decreasing output following attacks that further destabilized the electrical grid. 

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Two of the plants – Khmelnytskyy and Rivne – had already lowered production of electricity as a result of military activities earlier this month. Today, both facilities reduced production further after they each lost the connection to one of their high-voltage power lines. The IAEA teams based at these two sites also had to seek shelter during the morning’s air raid alarms. 

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The country’s third operating NPP, South Ukraine, also lost its connection to a high-voltage power line. The plant reported detecting 11 drones overnight one kilometre from the site.

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“The Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant is not the only plant affected by the instability of the electricity grid. Military activity continues to affect the power grid throughout Ukraine,” Director General Grossi told the IAEA Board meeting.

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The IAEA has organized two new deliveries under its comprehensive programme of assistance to Ukraine, bringing the total to 176 since the start of the conflict. 

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Under an Agency programme supporting Ukraine in managing the consequences of the Kakhovka dam destruction in mid-2023, the Mykolaiv Regional Laboratory of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection received laboratory equipment and supplies. Under the medical assistance programme for NPP personnel, the medical unit of the Khmelnytskyy NPP received decorporation and chelating agents, used for removing radioactive substances from the body following an accident. The deliveries were supported with funding from Belgium and Japan.

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Text Courtesy, IAEA