Ceasefire declared near Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant for repairs

A ceasefire mediated by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has begun near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) to enable repairs to be carried out to improve the plant's connection to the power grid and prevent a nuclear catastrophe.

Source: IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi

Quote: "Two weeks after off-site power was successfully restored to the ZNPP following a one-month outage – also made possible by temporary truce arrangements negotiated by the IAEA – demining and other preparations got under way this morning near a damaged section of the 330-kilovolt (kV) Ferosplavna-1 line, whose connection to the plant was cut six months ago."

Details: Technicians are set to begin repairs on Saturday and will connect Ferosplavna-1 to the plant in the coming days. This will connect the ZNPP with two power lines, including one that was repaired in October.

The ZNPP's six reactors are currently shut down and have not produced electricity for more than three years. However, power is still needed to run the pumps that cool the reactor cores and spent fuel, preventing meltdown and the potential release of radiation.

If there is no external electricity supply, the plant relies on emergency diesel generators to power its safety systems.

Background: Ukrainian engineers have had to repair the ZNPP's power lines 42 times since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.

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