The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) issued an alert about the possibility of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, facing a blackout in the next 10 days. The plant, located in Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia, has been facing serious security problems related to its power supply.
The plant depends on external electricity lines to maintain its reactor cooling systems, which are essential to avoid a nuclear disaster. When these lines are damaged or disconnected, the plant needs to rely on emergency diesel generators, whose autonomy is limited.
This is not the first alert issued by the IAEA regarding the situation at the Zaporizhzhia plant. The agency has been closely monitoring the situation since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, repeatedly expressing its concern about the safety of nuclear facilities during the conflict.
The possibility of a complete blackout at the plant represents a significant threat, since the loss of electrical power to safety systems could lead to reactor overheating, with potentially catastrophic consequences for the region and for Europe.
