Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Cools Fuel With Two Generators Through 18-Day Grid Outage
Europe’s largest nuclear plant, Zaporizhzhia, lost its last power line on Aug. 20 and spent about 18 days cooling six shut-down reactors and spent-fuel pools using emergency diesel generators, ultimately running only two of the 20 on-site units to stretch dwindling fuel as off-site deliveries were disrupted by fighting. The plant’s off-site depot reportedly ran dry, and the IAEA warned a full station blackout remained possible if power and fuel couldn’t return. Although the line was repaired by Sept. 7, margins stayed razor-thin, underscoring how even non-operating reactors require continuous cooling and highlighting the risk of common-cause failures in a war zone.
