Ukrainian power grid operator specialists are set to begin restoration work on the 330 kV power line that was damaged as a result of military actions on January 2. This will be the first step towards restoring power supply. Representatives of the IAEA have already flown out from Vienna and will monitor the repair process near the front line. Grossi also noted that this is already the fourth local ceasefire achieved between the parties. Against the backdrop of ongoing attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, the IAEA plans to send a new expert mission to inspect ten key substations that are critically important for the country's nuclear safety. These facilities are necessary to provide electricity for reactor cooling systems and to perform other important safety functions. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest nuclear power station in Europe, has six power units with a total capacity of 6000 MW. The plant is located near Enerhodar on the southern shore of the Kakhovka Reservoir. Since March 2022, the Zaporizhzhia NPP has been under Russian control and is operated by the Joint Stock Company "Rosenergoatom." Currently, all reactors at the plant are shut down, but they need to be continuously cooled. Power supply for the cooling systems is provided from the external grid, and in case of outages, backup power is supplied from diesel generators. Throughout the conflict, the plant has been subjected to shelling, with both sides accusing each other. The question of the future management of the Zaporizhzhia NPP after the war remains one of the central topics in discussions about a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
