# Shelling damages Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant’s backup power line -IAEA
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-09-08
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: Backup Power Line Damaged at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant
Meta Description: Shelling damages backup power line at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine. Immediate impact avoided. Concerns raised over potential nuclear meltdown
URL: https://financedigest.com/shelling-damages-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-plants-backup-power-line-iaeahtml

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By Francois Murphy

VIENNA (Reuters) -Shelling on Tuesday damaged a backup power line at the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine, which has already lost all four of its regular power lines, the U.N. [nuclear watchdog](https://www.financedigest.com/uks-competition-watchdog-to-examine-edf-buying-ges-nuclear-turbine-unit.html "UK’s competition watchdog to examine EDF buying GE’s nuclear turbine unit") said in a statement on Wednesday.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said there was no immediate impact from the damage to one of its three backup [power lines because the plant](https://www.financedigest.com/edpr-brings-iberias-first-wind-solar-power-plant-on-stream.html "EDPR brings Iberia’s first wind-solar power plant on-stream") was already disconnected from the grid.

Like all nuclear power plants, Zaporizhzhia [needs power](https://www.financedigest.com/europe-power-firms-need-1-5-trillion-euros-in-margin-calls-equinor-says.html "Europe power firms need 1.5 trillion euros in margin calls, Equinor says") to keep cooling the nuclear fuel in its reactors and its spent fuel. Its one operating reactor is [supplying power](https://www.financedigest.com/germanys-uniper-to-restart-coal-fired-power-plant-as-gazprom-halts-supply-to-europe.html "Germany’s Uniper to restart coal-fired power plant as Gazprom halts supply to Europe") but with each external power line that goes down, it loses a line of defence against potential nuclear meltdown.

Of the three backup lines between the ZNPP and the thermal power station, one is now damaged by shelling, while the two others are disconnected, senior [Ukrainian operating](https://www.financedigest.com/grid-operator-urges-ukrainians-to-save-electricity-as-temperatures-drop.html "Grid operator urges Ukrainians to save electricity as temperatures drop") staff informed IAEA experts present at the plant since last week,” the IAEA statement said, referring to a nearby coal-fired plant.

Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other for shelling that has occurred close to the plant and within its perimeter, [risking nuclear](https://www.financedigest.com/france-seeks-strategy-as-nuclear-waste-site-risks-saturation-point.html "France seeks strategy as nuclear waste site risks saturation point") catastrophe. [Russian forces](https://www.financedigest.com/russians-bombard-cities-as-losses-force-them-back.html "Russians bombard cities as losses force them back") took over the plant soon after their Feb. 24 invasion of [Ukraine but Ukrainian technicians still operate](https://www.financedigest.com/russia-promises-to-scale-down-operations-in-northern-ukraine.html "Russia promises to scale down operations in northern Ukraine") the power station.

Another of the backup lines was disconnected earlier this week to extinguish a fire.

Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine has six reactors and is [Europe’s biggest nuclear power](https://www.financedigest.com/edf-edison-ansaldo-team-up-to-develop-nuclear-power-in-europe.html "EDF, Edison, Ansaldo team up to develop nuclear power in Europe") plant.

[Ukraine said on Wednesday it might have to shut down the plant](https://www.financedigest.com/russia-seizes-ukraine-nuclear-power-plant-as-forces-lay-siege-to-cities.html "Russia seizes Ukraine nuclear power plant as forces lay siege to cities") to avoid a disaster and called on residents in areas nearby to evacuate for their own safety.

While the plant also has emergency diesel generators available if needed, (IAEA) [Director General Grossi has repeatedly expressed concern about the power supply situation,” the agency](https://www.financedigest.com/adnami-appoints-sophie-spencer-as-uk-agency-sales-director.html "Adnami appoints Sophie Spencer as UK Agency Sales Director") said.

(Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Chris Reese and Grant McCool)


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