Zaporizhzhia NPP restores backup power supply for first time in six months: IAEA calls it an important safety step

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) has regained access to a backup external power source after a six-month hiatus. This was made possible by the completion of repair work on the Ferrosplavna-1 high-voltage power transmission line. The event was reported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has been monitoring the safety situation at the occupied power facility for several years.

According to an official IAEA report, the 330 kV power transmission line was reconnected to the Zaporizhzhia NPP on November 8 at 19:43 local time. This connection provided the plant with a critical backup power supply for the first time in six months, which plays a key role in maintaining the stable operation of its safety systems.

IAEA officials stressed that the restoration of the line was “another important step in efforts to prevent a nuclear accident during wartime.” The agency stressed that without external power supply, the nuclear power plant cannot guarantee stable cooling of the reactors and spent fuel storage facilities, which poses serious risks in the event of a complete shutdown.

Despite the positive news, IAEA experts warn that the situation with external power remains extremely fragile. During the full-scale invasion, which has been going on for more than three and a half years, the ZNPP has completely lost access to the external power grid ten times. Each such incident required a switch to emergency power using diesel generators or backup energy sources.

“It took several weeks to reach this stage, when the plant again has access to two power lines. However, the situation remains very unstable, and our mission in Ukraine is far from over,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. He stressed that ensuring a stable power supply is a key factor in preventing any incidents at the plant.

Recall that all six power units of the Zaporizhzhia NPP have been out of operation for more than three years. Despite this, the plant needs electricity to power the systems that cool the reactor cores, maintain the safe storage of spent nuclear fuel, and prevent equipment from overheating. Without this, there is a risk of fuel meltdown, which could cause radioactive contamination of the area.

Thus, the restoration of the Ferrosplavna-1 backup power line has become an important but intermediate step towards strengthening safety at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. The IAEA continues to constantly monitor the situation and emphasizes that the stability of the power supply remains a crucial condition for preventing a possible nuclear crisis in the region.