Ukraine’s nuclear power plant in cold shutdown following water leak

Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) is transferring reactor unit 4 to cold shutdown following detection of a water leak, says Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi.

The water leak detection is reported at one of its four steam generators located in the containment of unit 4.

This shutdown is to determine the precise cause of the water leak detected and to conduct maintenance to repair the affected steam generator. There was reportedly no radiological release to the environment.

Over the next three days, ZNPP will move unit 6 to hot shutdown to continue steam production onsite. It has been in cold shutdown since 21 April, to enable inspection and maintenance of the safety systems.

The IAEA team on the site says it will closely monitor the operations for the transition between the shutdown states of Units 4 and 6. The other units at ZNPP remain in cold shutdown.

ZNPP has reportedly been experiencing major offsite power problems since the conflict began in early 2022, exacerbating the nuclear safety and security risks facing the site currently located on the frontline.

'The repeated power line cuts underline the continuing precarious nuclear safety and security situation at the plant,' says Director General Grossi.

The IAEA experts have visited one of the fresh fuel storage facilities. They have confirmed that the fresh fuel was safely and securely stored.