Repair Work Begins on Damaged External Power Lines at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

　　The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated on social media on the 18th that repair work on the damaged power lines at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has commenced, four weeks after the plant lost off-site power.

　　IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi noted that following the establishment of a local ceasefire zone, safety-related repair work at the plant has been permitted and has now begun. He added that both Russian and Ukrainian sides have engaged constructively with the IAEA to ensure the advancement of this complex repair plan.

　　Grossi emphasized that restoring off-site power to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is crucial for nuclear safety and security.

　　The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is one of Europe's largest nuclear facilities. It came under Russian control after the escalation of the Ukraine crisis in February 2022. Since then, the plant has repeatedly been struck by artillery fire or drone attacks, raising international concerns about its safety. Since September 23, the plant has relied on backup diesel generators for multiple consecutive days to maintain operations. In a statement dated September 30, Grossi described this as the longest period the plant has been without external power since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.