Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant Loses Off-Site Power Connection for the 21st Time

UKRAINE — The International Atomic Energy Agency reported on July 3 that the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant lost its connection to the 330 kV Ferosplavna-1 line, the 21st such loss during the military conflict.

The IAEA team on site was informed of and could hear military activity that caused the actuation of electrical protections on lines connecting the plant to the Ferosplavna-1 line, including one recently repaired during June’s ceasefire.

Emergency diesel generators started operating to supply power for reactor cooling and other essential nuclear safety functions. Power has been recovered, but one line connecting the site to the power line remains unavailable.

The loss occurred when the plant lost its connection to the 330 kV Ferosplavna-1 line. The IAEA team at the facility received information about military activity in the area that triggered electrical protection systems on the connecting lines. This included a line repaired earlier under a localized ceasefire arrangement in June.

Diesel generators activated automatically and provided the electricity required to maintain reactor core cooling and other safety functions. Off-site power was restored, but the status of one specific connecting line stayed unavailable at the time of the IAEA notification.

No release of radioactive material was reported in connection with this event, and radiation levels remained normal according to the available information from the site.

Official Statements

• International Atomic Energy Agency, July 3: “The IAEA has been informed that the Zaporizhzhya NPP today lost off-site power for the 21st time during the military conflict when it lost its connection to the 330 kV Ferosplavna-1 line. At the same time, the IAEA team on-site was informed of and could hear military activity that caused the actuation of electrical protections of lines connecting the ZNPP to the Ferosplavna-1 line - including one that was recently repaired during June’s ceasefire. The site’s emergency diesel generators started operating to provide power for reactor cooling and other essential nuclear safety functions and power has been recovered - however, one line connecting the site to the power line remains unavailable. The latest loss of off-site power again highlights the extreme fragility of nuclear safety at the plant and the need for maximum military restraint to help prevent a nuclear accident, DG @rafaelmgrossi says.”