Repair work has officially started on the damaged off-site power lines to Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, following a four-week outage, the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog has confirmed. This development marks a critical step in restoring power to Europe’s largest nuclear facility, which remains under Russian control amid ongoing conflict.
Ceasefire Zones Allow Urgent Repairs
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced that repair work began after temporary ceasefire zones were established between Ukrainian and Russian forces. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi confirmed the progress in a post on the social media platform X on Saturday.
“Restoration of off-site power is crucial for nuclear safety and security,” Grossi said. “Both sides engaged constructively with the IAEA to enable this complex repair plan to proceed safely.”
The Russian-appointed management at the plant echoed this sentiment, describing the repair efforts as a result of “close cooperation” between the IAEA and Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom. According to the plant’s Telegram channel, the Russian Defence Ministry will play a key role in ensuring the safety of these repair operations.
The Importance of Power for Nuclear Safety
Although the Zaporizhzhia plant is not currently in service, maintaining reliable power is essential to keep the reactor cores and spent fuel pools cool, preventing the risk of a catastrophic nuclear accident. Since September 23, the plant has relied on diesel generators after its last external power line was severed in attacks that both Russia and Ukraine blamed on each other.
The IAEA has repeatedly raised alarms over the safety of the facility, emphasizing that any failure in the backup power supply could lead to a complete blackout, fuel meltdown, and potential radiation release.
Two-Phase Restoration Plan
According to reports from The Associated Press, the IAEA has proposed a two-phase plan to restore external power to the plant:
- Phase One: Establish a 1.5 km (1-mile) radius ceasefire zone to repair the Dniprovska 750-kilovolt line, the main power supply line currently under Russian control.
- Phase Two: Establish a second ceasefire zone to repair the Ferosplavna-1 330-kilovolt backup line, located in an area controlled by Ukraine.
Grossi held separate meetings with officials from Kyiv and Moscow to negotiate the plan, including discussions with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha at the Warsaw Security Forum, and meetings with President Vladimir Putin and Rosatom Director General Alexei Likhachev in Russia.
Geopolitical Context and Safety Concerns
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has remained under Russian control since the early stages of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. While not actively producing electricity, it still poses a significant nuclear safety risk if power supply disruptions persist.
Ukraine’s foreign minister has accused Russia of deliberately severing the external power lines to integrate the plant into Moscow’s power grid. Meanwhile, top Russian diplomats have denied any plans to restart the facility.
Experts warn that without restored power, diesel generators may fail, which could trigger a nuclear disaster with widespread environmental consequences.
International and Regional Reactions
The international community has closely monitored the situation at Zaporizhzhia due to its potential impact on European energy security and regional nuclear safety. The ongoing cooperation between the IAEA, Ukrainian authorities, and Russian-appointed plant management underscores the urgency of preventing a nuclear catastrophe in one of the most volatile areas of southeastern Ukraine.
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