Localized ceasefire in effect to enable repairs to Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, IAEA says

A seventh local ceasefire brokered by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has officially commenced, enabling essential repairs to a power transmission line at the Zaporizhia NPP and restoring external power supply to the facility. With the plant now running perilously low on diesel fuel reserves, it faces the threat of a station blackout within days unless off-site power is reestablished or additional fuel can be delivered to the site, situated in a region of active warfare.

This temporary pause in hostilities around the damaged power line will see Ukrainian technicians commence repairs to the line later today, once the area has been cleared of mines, according to an IAEA statement on the X social network platform on Saturday. DG Grossi stated that both parties have been engaging constructively with the IAEA for the purpose of ensuring nuclear safety and security.

The agency has previously noted that a military action on the north bank of the Dnipro River on August 20 caused the Zaporizhia NPP to lose its sole remaining power line, the 330 kV Ferroplavna-1 line. Consequently, the plant has been depending on emergency diesel generators to maintain the cooling of its six reactors and spent fuel pools.