Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant loses power again, relying on generators for electricity

The Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine has lost its external electricity supply again, forcing it to rely on emergency diesel generators to keep its reactors cool and maintain essential safety functions, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Sunday.The plant's connection to its only remaining external power line, Ferosplavna-1, was lost early on Sunday. This marks the 27th such incident since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began in February 2022, highlighting continuing concerns over nuclear safety at the site."The cause and location of the latest disconnection are not yet known," the IAEA said in a post on X. It added that the plant had enough fuel to operate a limited number of emergency diesel generators for around two weeks.IAEA director general Rafael Grossi stressed the need to restore the plant's connection to the power grid and increase its diesel fuel reserves.The plant's Russian-installed management said the power line had been disconnected by "automatic protection". It added that radiation levels at the facility and in the surrounding surveillance zone remained normal.The plant, Europe's largest nuclear facility with six reactors, was seized by Russian forces in the early weeks of the invasion. It no longer generates electricity but requires an external power supply to keep nuclear fuel cool.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.