Work to repair the main 750 kilovolt (kV) Dneprovskaya power line supplying the Zaporizhia NPP (ZNPP) has started under a localised ceasefire brokered by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The Dneprovskaya line has been disconnected since 24 March leaving ZNPP dependent on the 330 kV Ferosplavna-1 reserve line. ZNPP Communications Director Evgeniya Yashina told RIA Novosti: “It is difficult to give an exact timeframe for the restoration process. The ceasefire is in effect until 23 June. We are making every effort to maximise this period for the necessary restoration measures.”
On 20 June, ZNPP lost its external power supply for the 20th time since the start of the conflict when the Ferosplavna-1 power line was disconnected by the automatic protection system, and the plant was switched to backup diesel generators. The outage lasted 4-5 hours.
According to the IAEA, the cause was a malfunction in the station’s internal lines. ZNPP said staff “constantly monitor the operation of the equipment and takes all necessary measures to maintain the safety of the power units”. It added: “After the external power supply was restored, the backup diesel generators were put on standby. The transition to the normal power supply scheme was carried out in accordance with the established regulations.”
