Zaporizhzhia NPP is operating on the brink due to Russia: will it become a new Fukushima for the world?
30 September 22:00
The situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant occupied by the Russian military has become critical and threatens not only Ukraine but also a number of European countries with a man-made disaster. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his traditional video address to Ukrainians on September 30, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
According to the Ukrainian leader, the critical situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been going on for seven days. This is the first time in the history of a nuclear power plant that it has been in danger for a whole week.
This is a threat to everyone. No terrorist in the world has ever allowed himself to do to a nuclear power plant what Russia is doing now. And it is right that the world should not be silent,” Zelensky said.
The President clarified that due to Russian shelling, the plant was disconnected from the power grid. It is supplied with electricity from diesel generators. But the generators and the station are not designed for this and have never worked in this mode for so long. In addition, one of the generators has already failed. The Russians themselves are preventing the repair of power lines to the plant and the restoration of basic security through shelling.
Zelenskyy also added that he had already held a meeting with the military and the Ministry of Energy and instructed the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to draw the world’s attention to what was happening at ZNPP.
On the same day, the President of Ukraine spoke with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres about the emergency at the nuclear power plant.
They also discussed the situation at ZNPP, which was occupied by Russians. It has been the longest blackout there – the plant has been cut off from power for seven days, and the power grid has been damaged by shelling. It is important for the world to know what the consequences may be. We are counting on an appropriate response,” the Head of State said.
Read also: IAEA explains why restart of Zaporizhzhia NPP is currently impossible
Emergency at Zaporizhzhia NPP: what happened and whether the plant will face the fate of Fukushima
The Zaporizhzhia NPP occupied by Russian troops has been without external power for a week. Emergency generators ensure the functioning of the cooling and safety systems, but there are no signs that the power line will be restored in the near future.
Western experts and Ukrainian officials are concerned that Russia is artificially creating a crisis situation in order to consolidate control over Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. The operating conditions of one or more reactors in the combat zone pose significant risks to the Russian side.
Nuclear energy expert Ludwig Lytvynsky believes that Russia is using the situation at ZNPP to intimidate.
“In simple words, there is a monkey with a grenade,” Lytvynsky said.
Nevertheless, the expert believes that there are no processes at the nuclear power plant that could really harm the nuclear safety of Ukraine and neighboring countries.
This is an element of hybrid warfare, nothing more. In my opinion, there is no serious danger there. The safety systems and safety measures provided for by the regulations ensure the proper condition of the existing units. In addition, the last of the operational units was shut down in September 2022. That is, the units have been in a state of cold shutdown for more than three years,” Lytvynsky reassured.
The Ministry of Energy also believes that as of September 30, there is no significant danger. The ministry says that the water level in the cooling pond is 13.28 meters. This is enough to meet the needs of the plant.
However, Oleh Korikov, head of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine, sees the situation as more complicated and threatening. He said that due to the shelling of power lines by Russian troops, damage to the infrastructure and obstacles to their restoration by Ukrainian specialists, the plant is in conditions that could lead to a worst-case scenario.
Дивіться нас у YouTube: важливі теми – без цензури
According to him, it is unknown what stocks of diesel fuel remain at the ZNPP industrial site and how long the generators will be able to maintain the operation of the irradiated nuclear fuel cooling systems in all six reactors and spent fuel pools.
Читайте нас у Telegram: головні новини коротко
