Blackout at Zaporizhzhia
Fears are growing about a nuclear catastrophe at the 6-reactor Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant with all offsite power now apparently lost. Even if the last of the six reactors is shut down, power is still needed to cool the fuel. The nearby town of Enerhodar is in a state of complete blackout. This is also where most of the nuclear plant workforce live. IAEA chief, Rafael Grossi has called once again for a ceasefire. “I therefore urgently call for the immediate cessation of all shelling in the entire area. Only this will ensure the safety and security of operating staff and allow the durable restoration of power to Enerhodar and to the power plant,” he said. The site now relies on 10 backup diesel generators which cannot run indefinitely. This is an evolving story. We will update it as we learn more.
Headline photo of Zaporizhzhia nuclear site by IAEA imagebank/Wikimedia Commons.
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