Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Restores 330 kV External Power Supply

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 7, local time, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) resumed receiving external power via the 330 kV "Ferosplavna-1" line. Ukraine's national nuclear energy company Energoatom confirmed that at 19:02 that day, the plant's auxiliary systems were re-energized through this line, with the plant's electrical load at approximately 11 MW.

This restoration of power supply corresponds to the plant's external power outage that had persisted for nearly three weeks since August 20. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had previously confirmed that the Zaporizhzhia NPP lost the 330 kV Ferosplavna-1 external power line, the only one still available at the time, on August 20, subsequently relying on emergency diesel generators to maintain the six reactors, spent fuel pool cooling, and other nuclear safety-related systems.

To repair the damaged line, the IAEA coordinated a localized ceasefire arrangement among relevant parties starting September 5. After demining was completed around the line, Ukrainian technicians began repairing the Ferosplavna-1 line, with IAEA personnel conducting on-site monitoring of the repair process. This arrangement marks the seventh localized ceasefire coordinated by the IAEA for maintenance work at the Zaporizhzhia NPP.

During the power outage, the plant's diesel supply remained under sustained pressure. On August 29, the IAEA stated that the on-site diesel reserves reported by the plant could last approximately 10 days, having fallen to the minimum reserve level required by local regulations. From August 27 to 28, IAEA personnel also supervised the transfer of dozens of tons of diesel from nearby off-site storage locations to the plant site to sustain the emergency generators.

Following the restoration of the Ferosplavna-1 line, the Zaporizhzhia NPP has regained a stable external power supply, which can continue to power the reactors, spent fuel pool cooling pumps, and other nuclear safety systems. None of the plant's six units are currently in power generation operation.