The International Atomic Energy Agency has secured agreement from Ukraine and Russia on a local ceasefire to repair the backup power line to the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has confirmed.
“Technicians from Ukraine’s power grid operator are expected to begin repair work on the 330 kV line, which was damaged and shut down as a result of military operations on January 2, in the coming days. The shutdown left Europe’s largest nuclear power plant dependent on a single functioning 750 kV transmission line,” the statement said.
As noted, the IAEA team left Vienna for the front line to observe the repair work.
“The IAEA continues to work closely with both sides to ensure nuclear safety at the ZNPP and prevent a nuclear accident during the conflict. This temporary ceasefire, the fourth we have agreed on, demonstrates the indispensable role we continue to play,” Grossi said.
Important repair work has begun on power lines near the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP following another local ceasefire brokered by the IAEA, the agency said in a post on social media on Sunday.
“Grossi thanks both sides for agreeing to this new temporary ‘window of silence’ to restore power transmission between the ZNPP and Zaporizhzhia Thermal Power Plant distribution stations, which will help strengthen nuclear safety,” the agency wrote.
It is noted that the IAEA team is monitoring the repair work, which is expected to take several days.
Since the start of the Russian occupation on March 4, 2022, the ZNPP has repeatedly experienced complete and partial blackouts due to the loss of all power lines (it receives electricity from the Ukrainian power grid), with the launch of emergency diesel generators and safety systems, the failure of which could lead to an emergency situation.
According to the IAEA, before the war, the ZNPP had 10 power lines — six at 750 kV and four at 330 kV. The largest nuclear power plant in Europe, which has six 1 GW units, has not been producing electricity since September 11, 2022, following the occupation.
The issue of the ZNPP is one of the problematic ones in the negotiations on the possibility of a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia, mediated by the US. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Washington is proposing that the plant in the currently occupied city of Enerhodar in the Zaporizhzhia region be jointly managed by the US, Ukraine, and Russia in a 33%:33%:33% split, while Ukraine is proposing that the plant be operated by a joint venture consisting of 50:50%
IAEA, POWER LINE, REPAIR, truce, ZNPP
IAEA experts are closely monitoring the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) in connection with allegations of a sabotage threat, but during recent inspections no signs of mines were found there, Rafael Grossi, the agency’s director general, said Wednesday.
“I was in contact with experts from the permanent mission to the ZNPP today, just a few hours ago. We are aware of the allegations and statements from both sides. (…) We have not detected any signs of mines during recent inspections, but we remain extremely wary,” Grossi said at a briefing in Japan, commenting on reports of a sabotage threat at the ZNPP.
He added that “we cannot relax now,” and promised to report regularly on the situation at the plant.
According to Grossi, the IAEA has requested access to a number of other locations at the ZNPP. “IAEA experts have asked for additional access. This is needed to make sure there are no mines or explosives at the site,” the IAEA quoted the director general as saying.
“In particular, access is required to the roof over reactors 3 and 4, to the engine room and to some components of the nuclear power plant cooling system,” he added.
The IAEA experts have received information according to which there are plans to re-launch the fifth reactor at the Zaporizhia NPP, the agency said in a statement.
“Senior Ukrainian operating staff informed IAEA experts present at the ZNPP that preparations are under way to start unit 5 at reduced power to produce steam and heat for the needs of the plant,” the IAEA’s statement reads.
It is noted that it will take some time to complete all the preparations. Zaporizhia NPP is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, has six VVER-1000 power units.
At the moment, the plant does not generate electricity: on September 11, the last working reactor was stopped.
On September 1, the IAEA mission visited the NPP. After that, two agency specialists work at the station.
The Ukrainian Zaporizhia NPP was captured by Russian troops at the end of February.
NNEGC “Energoatom” refuted the information about a fire at the second power unit of the Zaporozhye NPP, circulated in Telegram channels about an hour ago.
“We officially inform you that this is not true. As of 15:40 on September 29, 2022, no fires and fires were recorded at the power units of the Zaporozhye NPP,” the company wrote on its Telegram channel on Thursday.
NNEGC Energoatom, in a comment to the Interfax-Ukraine agency, did not confirm the information that appeared in the Telegram channels about the fire at power unit No. 2 of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (ZNPP).
“We are preparing a refutation,” the company said.
As reported, a number of Telegram channels reported a few minutes ago about an emergency situation at the ZNPP – a fire at unit No. 2.
