The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported this Saturday the entry into force of a limited ceasefire in the area of the Zaporiyia nuclear power plant, with the aim of facilitating the repair work of the power line that supplies the facilities, after a prolonged outage caused by the crossfire between Ukraine and Russia.
"Another localized ceasefire negotiated by the IAEA has come into effect to allow the necessary repairs of the power line to restore external electricity supply to the Zaporiyia nuclear power plant," confirmed the United Nations-dependent entity in a message on social media.
The agency explained that, amid the exchange of fire between Russian and Ukrainian forces, "the plant lost connection with its only remaining power line - the 330 kilovolt Ferosplavna-1 - on August 20," which in recent weeks has forced the plant to rely on emergency diesel generators to maintain the cooling of its six reactors and the pools where used fuel is stored.
"The plant is running out of diesel fuel reserves and faces a possible total blackout within days, unless external electricity supply is restored or more fuel reserves can be transported to the facilities, located in an active war zone," warned the IAEA, which specified that Ukrainian technicians will begin repair work on the power line throughout the day "once the area has been demined."
The Director General of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, emphasized that both Moscow and Kiev have collaborated "constructively" to strengthen nuclear safety and protection. He also detailed that a team from the agency will be present on the ground to supervise the work during the truce, the seventh of its kind around the plant, with the aim of minimizing the risk of a nuclear accident.