Second power line for Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant repaired

War in Ukraine

IAEA: Second power line for Zaporizhia nuclear power plant repaired

The shut down Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine is dependent on electricity from outside. The second line, which has been defective since May, has now been repaired. The IAEA explains what that means.

The Russian occupiers of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine have repaired the second power line, which has been defective since May. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed the commissioning of the 330 kilowatt line needed to supply electricity to the power plant. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi spoke at X of an “important step for nuclear safety.”

With the 750-kilowatt line repaired a month ago, “this is a good day for nuclear safety,” Grossi said. In October, the first repairs ended the tenth blackout since the occupation of the power plant began in 2022. A local ceasefire was agreed for the repair work through the mediation of the IAEA, which has observers at the nuclear power plant.

The Russian power plant administration announced on Telegram that this would significantly increase the stability of the energy system. The commissioning of the line is also important for the heat supply to the occupied city of Enerhodar, where the nuclear power plant is located.

In October, Ukrainian Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk confirmed that the first line had been repaired and again accused the Russian side of systematically bombing the power lines to the nuclear power plant in order to cut off the connection to the country’s power grid. Russia also repeatedly accuses Ukraine of shelling the lines in order to destabilize the security situation and thus provoke international intervention.

With six blocks and a nominal output of 6,000 megawatts, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant has been occupied by Moscow troops since March 2022 – immediately after the start of the Russian war of aggression. The reactors have been shut down for safety reasons, but still need further cooling. The cooling systems are supplied by the power lines, which are now intact again. Diesel generators provide cooling during power outages.