Kathmandu— The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in southeastern Ukraine has operated without external power for more than a week, forcing it to rely on emergency diesel generators, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned Saturday. The plant, currently under Russian occupation since 2022, requires consistent power to cool its six non-operating reactors and prevent a potential meltdown; it possesses only a ten-day supply of diesel fuel on site. This is the twenty-seventh time since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 that the plant has been forced to utilize emergency power sources, according to Ukrainian officials.

Dependence on Emergency Power

The Zaporizhzhia plant hasn't received a shipment from its primary off-site storage facility for approximately six months. While deliveries were made Thursday and Friday from another location, the reliance on emergency diesel generators remains precarious. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi emphasized that “the availability of diesel fuel is of paramount importance whenever a nuclear power plant loses off-site power.” The plant stopped generating electricity in September 2022 but still requires power for essential safety functions.

Recurring Blackouts and Drone Incidents

This latest disconnection marks the twenty-seventh blackout at Zaporizhzhia since the start of Russia’s invasion, as noted by Ukraine’s deputy head of military law enforcement, Gyunduz Mamedov. The IAEA has maintained a permanent presence at the facility since September 2022, following its occupation by Russian forces in March of that year. Recent weeks have seen increased incidents involving drones near the plant; the IAEA reported three such occurrences last week which injured two employees, though it did not attribute responsibility for the attacks.

Accusations and Concerns Over Nuclear Safety

Both Ukraine and Russia routinely accuse each other of targeting the Zaporizhzhia plant, which is situated on the banks of the Dnipro River along the front line. Earlier this month, a drone strike near the facility resulted in one fatality and seventeen injuries, with Moscow blaming Kyiv for the attack. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly asserted that Russian actions around the plant constitute nuclear blackmail against Ukraine and Europe, citing instances like footage of a fire in a cooling tower earlier in 2024.

Efforts to Restore Power

The Vienna-based IAEA is currently attempting to negotiate a local ceasefire to facilitate repairs to the external electrical lines supplying power to the plant. The agency hopes that a temporary cessation of hostilities will allow technicians to restore off-site power and reduce the risk associated with relying on limited emergency supplies.

As of Saturday, the Zaporizhzhia plant continues to operate on emergency diesel generators while the IAEA pursues diplomatic efforts to secure repairs and prevent further disruptions to its power supply.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.