The Zaporizhia nuclear power plant remains Europe's biggest energy challenge.
The Zaporizhia nuclear power plant remains under constant monitoring. The IAEA has stated that there is no "imminent danger" of an accident at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, as its own generators maintain power supply after more than a week of disconnection from the general grid.
The plant, considered Europe's largest nuclear power plant, lost its external supply on September 23, for the tenth time since Russia launched its military offensive against Ukraine in February 2022.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi warned in a statement that this incident is "by far" the longest outage in three and a half years of conflict and confirmed "constant" contacts with all parties to try to restore supply as quickly as possible and ensure the facilities are completely safe.
Generators support the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant during the war
"Although the plant is operating thanks to its emergency diesel generators, the last line of defense, and there is no immediate danger as long as they continue to operate, it is clearly not a sustainable situation in terms of safety ," Grossi stressed in a statement in which he also noted that "neither party would benefit from a nuclear accident.
authorities frequently exchange reproaches over attacks in the vicinity of these facilities, where a team of IAEA experts is permanently stationed. The current outage stems precisely from the damage sustained to the last supply line as a result of military activity just 1.5 kilometers from the plant.
Grossi urged all parties to facilitate the required "essential repairs."
A key plant in the conflict
The Zaporizhia nuclear power plant is located in southern Ukraine and has been operating under Russian control since the first months of the invasion. Its size and strategic importance make it a sensitive point for both sides, as it provides a significant portion of the country's energy.
Since February 2022, the plant has suffered ten disconnections from the external grid, each associated with attacks or damage to nearby infrastructure. The current outage has already lasted more than a week and is, according to Grossi, "by far" the longest in three and a half years of conflict.
The IAEA maintains a permanent team on site to verify the status of the reactors, the functioning of the cooling systems, and the level of radiation safety.
International risks and warnings
Although the agency assures there is no immediate danger, several experts point out that the risk increases the longer the dependence on generators continues. These devices require fuel, constant maintenance, and supply logistics that are complex in a war scenario.
Grossi insisted that "no party would benefit from a nuclear accident," emphasizing that such an event would have serious consequences beyond Ukraine and Russia. Contamination could reach neighboring countries and impact health, agricultural production, and international trade, inevitably echoing the events of Chernobyl in 1986.
Cross-accusations and requests for reparation
Both Ukraine and Russia accuse each other of causing damage to the power line supplying the plant. The fighting is taking place just 1.5 kilometers from the plant, complicating any repair efforts.
The IAEA called for the entry of technicians to carry out essential repairs and ensure a stable external supply. In his statement, Grossi emphasized that "the facilities must be fully secure, regardless of who has operational control."
The role of the IAEA and the global perspective
The presence of the international mission seeks to reassure the international community. European countries, along with the United States and United Nations agencies, are closely monitoring what is happening in Zaporizhia. For many governments, any incident there would be a direct blow to the region's energy and environmental security.
In Uruguay, where electricity generation depends on renewable sources such as hydroelectricity and wind power, the news is followed at a distance, but with the awareness that a nuclear accident in Europe would have global repercussions, from energy prices to food security.
The future of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant depends on immediate repairs.
For now, diesel generators are maintaining operations and allowing the cooling systems to function normally. However, uncertainty grows with each passing day without external power. The question remains: how long can this situation be sustained without greater risk?
The IAEA reiterated its willingness to mediate between the parties to ensure that repairs are completed as quickly as possible. In a context where the work of technicians is complicated by the war, the agency insists that ensuring nuclear security should be outside any military dispute.
