IAEA: "Ukraine Nuclear Plant Power Line Cut Again... Unimaginable Incident"

The power line supplying electricity to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest nuclear power complex in Europe located in Ukraine, was repeatedly cut off and restored.

The IAEA emblem displayed on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) building within the Vienna International Centre (VIC) in Vienna, Austria. [Photo by Yonhap News]

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the 25th (local time), the 330kV external power line connected to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant was cut off on the 22nd and restored after 26 hours. The IAEA explained that an unidentified shock occurring across the Dnipro River near the nuclear power plant caused the power line disconnection.

Since the outbreak of the Ukraine war, the external power lines supplying electricity to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant have often been cut off. During the restoration of the power lines, the plant relied solely on the 750kV main power line for external power supply. If the plant cannot receive external power, the cooling system stops, causing reactor overheating and core meltdown, which could lead to a massive release of radioactive materials. This is why IAEA resident staff monitor the power supply of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

Rafael Grossi, Director General of the IAEA, said, "Unprecedented external power line outages at nuclear power plants are occurring frequently amid this horrific war," adding, "Clearly, this issue has not improved, and nuclear safety remains very unstable."

The IAEA also reported that the 330kV power line was cut off three weeks ago. In December last year, both the main power line and the emergency power line were cut simultaneously, and 20 emergency diesel generators were operated to supply power to the plant.