IAEA says second power line at Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant repaired
The Russians occupying Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in the south-east of the country have repaired the second power line, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Saturday.
In a post on X, the UN’s nuclear watchdog said the 330-kilowatt line had been reconnected to the main power plant at 7:43 pm (1743 GMT) “for the first time in six months.”
“This is a good day for nuclear safety,” wrote IAEA chief Rafael Grossi.
In October, the first repair ended the 10th blackout since the plant was occupied in 2022. For the repair work, a local ceasefire was agreed under the IAEA’s mediation.
Agency has observers at the plant
The Russian plant administration said on Telegram that this would significantly increase the stability of the energy system. It added that commissioning the line was also important for the heat supply of the occupied city of Enerhodar, where the plant is located.
In October, Ukrainian Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk confirmed the repair of the first line and again accused the Russian side of systematically shelling the power lines to cut the plant off from the national grid. Russia also accuses Ukraine of shelling the lines to destabilize the security situation and provoke international intervention.
Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, with six units and a nominal capacity of 6,000 megawatts, has been occupied by Moscow’s troops since March 2022, shortly after the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The reactors are shut down for safety reasons but must continue to be cooled. The cooling systems are supplied by the now restored power lines. In the event of power cuts, diesel generators ensure cooling.
