Situation at ZNPP remains fragile despite connection to backup line - IAEA

The IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said this in a statement on July 3, Ukrinform reports.

"While the reconnection of the back-up power line is positive, the plant’s external power situation remains highly vulnerable, underlining the precarious nuclear safety and security situation at the site," Grossi said.

The connection of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to a single 330 kV power line was interrupted on March 1 due to damage on the other side of the Dnipro River. The connection was restored only on the evening of July 1.

"The reconnection of the 330 kV line is significant as the ZNPP for the past several months has been relying on a single main 750 kV line for the external electricity it needs for reactor cooling and other essential nuclear safety and security functions," the statement said.

Before the start of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war, ZNPP had access to four 750 kV lines.

Grossi noted that the 330 kV line is now energised and is kept as back-up and ready to supply power to the ZNPP if the 750 kV line becomes unavailable or damaged.

During Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia NPP has already lost external power supply seven times, which led to the temporary use of emergency diesel generators to generate electricity, the statement said.

Earlier, Grossi announced the need for additional measures to stabilize the water level in the cooling pond at the ZNPP.

As Ukrinform reported, Ukrenergo announced the return to operation of one of the power lines that supplies power to Zaporizhzhia NPP.

Photo: Kostyantyn Liberov