Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant once again faces blackout threat
Photo: a full power outage at ZNPP could cause the eleventh blackout (Getty Images)
On November 14, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) lost power from the Dniprovska transmission line. It put the station at risk of another blackout, according to the statement from Energoatom.
The 750 kV Dniprovska line is the main source of power for the temporarily occupied plant. Currently, ZNPP is receiving electricity for its own needs from only one transmission line.
"Ensuring external power supply, necessary for the safe operation of the plant, is again under threat. A full disconnection from the energy system could trigger an eleventh blackout at ZNPP, posing a serious risk to nuclear safety," Energoatom warned.
Previously, on October 23, power at ZNPP was restored. This allowed the plant to emerge from the tenth blackout, lasting the past month.
ZNPP blackout history
On September 23, Energoatom reported the tenth full blackout at ZNPP since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
The company noted that Russia deliberately prevented the plant from reconnecting to Ukraine’s energy system. Meanwhile, the only external transmission line linking ZNPP to the Ukrainian grid failed.
As a result, the plant had to switch to emergency power supplied by diesel generators.
Experts warned that the lack of external power creates a serious nuclear safety risk, as it is essential for reactor cooling.
For more on the potential nuclear risks at ZNPP and whether the IAEA can intervene, see the material by RBC-Ukraine.
