IAEA Secures Local Ceasefire to Repair Backup Power Line at Zaporizhzhia Plant
Repairs aim to reduce nuclear safety risks
ISTANBUL — The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced on Friday that it has secured a localized ceasefire to allow urgent repairs to the last remaining backup power line serving the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in southern Ukraine.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said both Russia and Ukraine agreed to the temporary halt in fighting. As a result, technicians from Ukraine’s grid operator Ukrenergo will begin repairing the damaged 330-kilovolt power line in the coming days.
Plant operating on single power source
The agency warned that the outage left the nuclear facility dependent on its only functioning 750-kilovolt main power line, increasing safety risks. To oversee the process, an IAEA monitoring team has departed from Vienna and will observe repair work near the front line.
“The IAEA continues to work closely with both sides to ensure nuclear safety at the ZNPP and to prevent a nuclear accident during the conflict,” Grossi said. He added that this marks the fourth temporary ceasefire the agency has negotiated to support nuclear safety efforts.
Wider risks to Ukraine’s nuclear facilities
Grossi also highlighted recent disruptions at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, where damage to a critical electrical substation caused one power line to disconnect earlier this week. Although other lines continued to supply electricity, the incident showed how vital substations are for keeping safety systems running.
In addition, the IAEA reported that one of Ukraine’s three operating nuclear power plants had to temporarily reduce output last weekend after damage to nearby electrical infrastructure.
Longstanding concerns over Zaporizhzhia
The IAEA first launched talks on January 9 to establish a ceasefire zone around the damaged backup line, which went offline on January 2.
Concerns remain high around the ZNPP, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant and one of the world’s ten biggest, as fighting continues in nearby areas. Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly accused each other of attacks near the site.
IAEA staff have maintained a permanent presence at the plant since September 1, 2022. Russian forces have controlled the facility since March 2022.
NEWS DESK
PRESS UPDATE