IAEA secures ceasefire for repairs to power line supplying ZNPP
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced on Friday, June 5, that it had brokered a temporary local ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, which will allow for repairs to the power line leading to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP).
The IAEA made this announcement on the social media platform X, according to Ukrinform.
“The local ceasefire, brokered by the IAEA, took effect today on the front line near the Zaporizhzhia NPP, which will allow for the necessary repairs to the power line to be carried out in order to prevent the threat of a nuclear accident,” the statement said.
It is noted that, under the supervision of IAEA experts, technical specialists from both sides will begin repairing damage caused by military actions on the 750-kilovolt “Dniprovska” power line in the coming days, following extensive demining of the area.
This power line was shut down more than two months ago, leaving Europe’s largest nuclear power plant dependent on a single 330-kilovolt line to supply the electricity needed to cool six shut-down reactors, the statement said.
According to the IAEA, over the past few weeks, the Zaporizhzhia NPP has lost access to this line several times, forcing it to use emergency diesel generators.
This time, preparations for repairs were complicated by the location of the damage to the power line: at the top of tall towers near the demarcation line on the Dnipro River.
This is the sixth ceasefire announced near the ZNPP since the end of last year.
As reported by Ukrinform, the IAEA expressed deep concern over the attack near the Zaporizhzhia Thermal Power Plant, which could jeopardize the single power line currently supplying the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP.
Ukrinform photos can be purchased here