The IAEA reported that it has agreed on a local ceasefire near the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP to repair a vital power line supplying the plant, UNN reports.
A local ceasefire mediated by the IAEA came into effect today on the front lines near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), paving the way for critical repairs to power lines to prevent the threat of a nuclear accident,
As stated, "under the supervision of IAEA experts, technicians from both sides will begin repairing war-related damage to the 750 kilovolt (kV) 'Dniprovska' power line in the coming days following extensive demining of the area."
"The 750 kV power line was disconnected more than two months ago, leaving Europe's largest NPP entirely dependent on a single 330 kV line for the electricity needed to cool its six shut-down reactors. In recent weeks, the ZNPP has lost access to this line several times, forcing it to run its emergency diesel generators as a last resort," the IAEA noted.
This is reportedly the sixth temporary ceasefire that IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has negotiated with Russia and Ukraine since late last year "to help secure off-site power supplies and ensure nuclear safety."
This time, as indicated, "preparations for the repair were complicated by the location of the damage to the power line: on the tops of high pylons across the line of control on the Dnipro River."
Director General Grossi noted that "the Russian Federation and Ukraine have cooperated constructively with the IAEA during weeks of delicate and complex negotiations, and both sides agreed to a ceasefire for the sake of nuclear safety."
"The IAEA will continue to do everything possible to help protect people and the environment from the risk of a nuclear accident, which would benefit absolutely no one and only increase wartime destruction and suffering," said Director General Grossi.