The nuclear power plant depends on a single 750 kV transmission line in operation that supplies off-site electricity.
Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, called the situation at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant captured by Russian invaders “extremely unstable”. The IAEA report noted that the explosion of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station created an additional danger to the operation of the station.
“The nuclear safety situation at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant is highly unstable. The loss of the Kakhovka reservoir was a catastrophe for the region, and also added serious difficulties for this vast nuclear power plant. Now more than ever, all parties must fully adhere to the basic principles of the IAEA aimed at preventing the prevention of nuclear accidents. We are stepping up our efforts to help ensure nuclear and security safety, as well as providing assistance to the affected region in other ways,” Grossi said.
Earlier, the IAEA reported about the mining at the cooling pond of the Zaporozhye NPP. During Grossi’s visit, no mines were found on the spot, but the agency is aware of the preliminary placement of mines inside the station and around its perimeter.
It is noted that over the past two weeks, ZNPP has received the cooling water it needs from reserves in the discharge channel of the Zaporozhye thermal power plant. ZNPP also plans to resume pumping the still available water, despite the Russians blowing up the dam of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station.
According to the IAEA, potential hazards currently facing the plant include Zaporizhzhya NPP’s dependence on a single, operational 750 kV transmission line that supplies off-site power needed for reactor cooling and other nuclear safety functions.
It should be reminded that on June 15, the IAEA Director General visited the Zaporozhye NPP. After the visit, Grossi noted that one of the main consequences of the destruction of the Kakhovskaya HPP dam is a decrease in the water level in the ZNPP cooling pond, which is important for the safety of the plant.
On June 20, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, Kirill Budanov, reported that Russian troops additionally mined the cooling pond of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant.
