VIENNA, Sept 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine is disconnected from its backup power line, but continues to receive the electricity it needs for safety, from its sole operating reactor, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said, citing information from Ukraine.
The IAEA said, the backup power line, linking the Zaporizhzhia plant and a nearby thermal power station, was “deliberately disconnected” earlier in the day, to “extinguish a fire, but the line itself was not damaged.”
The reserve line had been used to deliver electricity from the Zaporizhzhia plant to the grid, as the plant had lost connection with all four main external power lines by Friday.
The IAEA said, it was informed by Ukraine that, the backup line will be reconnected once the fire has been extinguished. The plant’s Ukrainian staff also plans to repair the main external power line that went down on Friday, but the process “would take several days.”
IAEA Director-General, Rafael Grossi, led an expert mission to the Zaporizhzhia plant last week. Six of those experts remained at the facility after the mission completed a visit last Thursday.
The United Nations nuclear watchdog confirmed yesterday that, four experts left the Zaporizhzhia plant earlier in the day as planned, and two others are staying to maintain a continuous IAEA presence, “enabling the agency to observe the situation there and provide independent assessments.”
Grossi will issue a report today, on the nuclear safety, security and safeguards situation in Ukraine, including the findings from the IAEA mission to the Zaporizhzhia plant. He will also brief the UN Security Council about the mission later today, said the statement.
The Zaporizhzhia, one of Europe’s largest nuclear power plants, has been controlled by Russian forces since early March, while its Ukrainian staff has continued to operate it.
In recent weeks, the plant has been attacked by shelling, sparking international concern about its safety. Ukraine and Russia accused each other over the strikes.– NNN-AGENCIES
