The United Nations nuclear watchdog, Russia and Ukraine are discussing ways to restore off-site power to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), which has depended on back-up electricity for 10 days, the agency said Friday.
“Both sides say they stand ready to conduct the necessary repairs on their respective sides of the frontline. But for this to happen, the security situation on the ground must improve so that the technicians can carry out their vital work without endangering their lives,” said Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
On Sept. 23, the sole remaining 750 kV powerline was disconnected as a result of damage on the frontline, said a statement released by the IAEA, noting the resulting loss of off-site power is by far the longest of the 10 such events that the ZNPP has suffered during the ongoing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Should a complete blackout at the ZNPP occur, it may potentially cause an accident with fuel melting and a potential radiation release into the environment, it said.
While the ZNPP’s emergency diesel generators were operating normally and there was also plenty of fuel in reserve, this is an “unprecedented situation that must be resolved without further delay,” Grossi said in the statement.
“I am calling on both sides to do what is necessary to prevent a further deterioration. It is a question of political will, not whether it is technically possible, which it is,” he said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua
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