"For the 16th time during the military conflict, the Zaporizhzhia NPP temporarily lost all external power supply overnight," the agency stated on X, citing Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi.
According to the IAEA, emergency diesel generators kicked in to provide electricity to the most critical safety systems during the hour-long outage, after which the plant was reconnected to its sole remaining power line.
"The cause is not yet known, but this incident underscores that nuclear safety remains vulnerable," Grossi emphasized.
As previously reported, the Zaporizhzhia NPP currently receives external power through only one power line, following the disconnection of its main line back in March. Before the start of the full-scale war, the facility was connected to 10 lines simultaneously.
The IAEA continues consultations with Ukraine and Russia regarding a temporary ceasefire in the vicinity of the plant to carry out repairs on the 750 kV power line. However, the complex situation near the front line significantly complicates both the repair work and the negotiation process.
