Local ceasefire announced near Zaporizhzhia NPP to repair power line – IAEA

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said this on X, according to Ukrinform.

"Another IAEA-brokered localized ceasefire has taken effect to enable power line repairs necessary for the restoration of off-site power to the Zaporizhzhia NPP after a long outage, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi announced today," the statement said.

The agency noted that due to military activity on the northern side of the Dnipro River, the plant lost the connection to its sole remaining power line – the 330 kilovolt Ferosplavna-1 – on August 20. Since then, the ZNPP has depended on emergency diesel generators to cool its six reactors and spent fuel pools.

The plant is now running low on diesel fuel reserves and faces a possible station blackout within days unless off-site power is restored or more fuel reserves can be transported to the site, located in an active war zone.

"Under the temporary ceasefire around the damaged power line, Ukrainian technicians will begin power line repairs later today following demining of the area," the statement said.

In his statement, Grossi added that both sides had been engaging constructively with the IAEA for the sake of nuclear safety and security.

An IAEA team will monitor the repair work during the ceasefire, the seventh such truce to date.

On August 20, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant lost its external power supply and has been operating on diesel generators.

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