The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine has lost all external power for the second time in recent weeks, according to the plant's operator. The outage has renewed concerns about the safety of the facility, which relies on external electricity to run critical cooling systems.
Cause and impact of the outage
The loss of power was attributed to damage to a key transmission line, the operator said. Without external power, the plant has switched to emergency diesel generators to maintain cooling of its reactors and spent fuel pools.
The generators have enough fuel for a limited period, and the operator warned that if power is not restored soon, there could be a risk of a fuel meltdown. The situation is being closely monitored by international nuclear watchdogs.
Background and ongoing risks
This is the second such outage at the plant in a matter of weeks, highlighting the fragile state of Ukraine's energy infrastructure amid ongoing military conflict. The plant, which is Europe's largest nuclear facility, has been under Russian control since early in the war.
Previous outages have been resolved after repairs to damaged lines, but each incident raises the stakes for nuclear safety in the region. The operator has called for a demilitarized zone around the plant to prevent further damage.
