On September 7, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi expressed gratitude to Russia and Ukraine for cooperating with the organization and agreeing on a ceasefire regime that enabled the restoration of external power supply to the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP).
In a statement posted on social media, Grossi thanked both nations for their collaboration in reaching a ceasefire agreement and for the opportunity to restore critical electricity supply.
The external power supply was restored after an almost three-week interruption. The plant can now receive electricity from outside to cool reactors and spent nuclear fuel storage pools, as well as perform other essential nuclear safety functions.
The NPP lost external power on August 20 when the 330 kV Ferroalloy-1 high-voltage power transmission line — which provided external power to the facility — shut down automatically due to damage. Backup diesel generators were used to meet the plant’s immediate needs during this period.
Later, on September 5, a local ceasefire came into effect in the area surrounding the nuclear power plant to allow repairs on the damaged transmission line. Work began that same day, and external power supply via the Ferroalloy-1 line was restored by September 7.
