Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) lost connection to its main off-site power line on Tuesday, leaving it reliant on a single backup power line, as IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi initiated discussions with the Russian Federation and Ukraine to secure a local ceasefire for urgent repairs.

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The ZNPP’s Dniprovska 750 kV power line was disconnected at 11:55 on Tuesday following reports of damage to the line. The ZNPP and Ukrainian grid dispatcher are communicating with the IAEA regarding plans to carry out repairs. The IAEA team at the plant continues to closely monitor the situation.

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Although the timing for the necessary repairs remains uncertain, Director General Grossi confirmed that the IAEA has proposed a ceasefire window to both parties, allowing for safe assessment and restoration of the damaged infrastructure. 

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The IAEA has previously brokered five temporary ceasefire arrangements, which enabled six separate repairs to power lines connected to the ZNPP.

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The ZNPP is still connected to off-site power via its sole backup power line – the 330kV Ferosplavna-1 line, reconnected on 5 March, following repairs carried out under the protection of the fifth local ceasefire negotiated by the IAEA. 

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Elsewhere in Ukraine, the IAEA team at the Khmelnitsky Nuclear Power Plant reported that they had to shelter for several hours on Tuesday afternoon.

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Also this week, as part of the IAEA’s ongoing comprehensive programme of assistance to Ukraine in nuclear safety and security, one gas chromatograph with high resolution magnetic spectrometry was delivered to the State Scientific Research Institute of Laboratory Diagnostics and Veterinary and Sanitary Expertise in Kyiv. A second gas chromatograph and a liquid chromatograph, both with double mass spectrometric detectors, were also delivered to the Lviv Regional State Laboratory of State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection. The deliveries were made possible with funds from Japan. 

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Text Courtesy, IAEA