IAEA reports local ceasefire near Zaporizhzhia NPP to restore power line

A temporary local ceasefire mediated by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) came into effect on Friday near the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) to allow repairs to the damaged Ferosplavna-1 power transmission line.

According to Ukrinform, this was announced in a statement by IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi.

“Another localized ceasefire brokered by the IAEA took effect near Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) today, paving the way for repairs aimed at strengthening the site’s connection to the electricity grid and preventing a nuclear accident,” the statement said.

Grossi noted that the current agreement was reached two weeks after off-site power supply to the ZNPP was restored following a month-long outage which also was “made possible by temporary truce arrangements negotiated by the IAEA.”

According to the statement, demining and other preparatory work began Friday morning near the damaged section of the 330-kilovolt Ferosplavna-1 line, whose connection to the plant was cut six months ago.

“Technicians are expected to begin the repairs on Saturday with the intention to re-connect Ferosplavna-1 to the site in the next few days. It would give the ZNPP access to two power lines after last month’s repairs of the 750 kV Dniprovska line, which had been disconnected for more than four weeks when it resumed supplying electricity to the plant on 23 October,” the statement said.

The IAEA team stationed at the plant will monitor the new repair work.

As reported by Ukrinform, ZNPP remained in blackout conditions for about a month starting from September 23.