Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant restores external power connection after three weeks

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine restored its external electricity connection on Monday after almost three weeks of interruption, following repairs carried out during a local truce negotiated by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The connection went out on August 20 because of nearby military activity. Since then, the Russian-occupied plant had relied on emergency diesel generators to maintain essential safety functions, including cooling its six reactors and pools containing spent nuclear fuel.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi called the reconnection “a crucial step” toward preventing a nuclear accident. The agency said Ukrainian technicians worked for three days to repair the last available external connection. It had warned that a prolonged interruption, combined with shrinking diesel reserves, could increase the risk of a total blackout.

All six reactors are now shut down, but the plant still requires a constant energy supply for cooling and other critical safety systems. Grossi thanked Russia and Ukraine for taking part in the agreement that enabled the repair work, which the IAEA said marked the seventh localized truce it had negotiated during the conflict.

The agency said it would continue working to protect the plant’s safety while hostilities persist around what was once Europe’s largest nuclear power station. Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of endangering the facility.

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A crucial step