Possible Fukushima scenario: Zaporizhzhia NPP blackout continues for third day – media

Three days without external power at Zaporizhzhia NPP are forcing emergency generators to work at maximum capacity. Experts fear uncontrolled heating of reactors.

This is reported by the British publication The Guardian.

The Zaporizhzhia NPP, occupied by the russians, has been without external power for more than three days. Emergency generators provide cooling and safety systems, but there are no signals for a quick restoration of the line.

Western experts and Ukrainian officials fear that russia is creating a crisis to consolidate control over Europe's largest nuclear power plant. Russia is taking high risks by trying to launch at least one reactor in wartime conditions.

"Russia is using the NPP as a bargaining chip," a Ukrainian official told reporters.

Meanwhile, Greenpeace experts are warning of a "new critical and potentially catastrophic phase" of the occupation.

Stress tests by European regulators after the 2011 Fukushima disaster showed that the plant must have external power for 72 hours. This period has not been tested to be exceeded.

Seven of the 18 available generators are currently providing cooling, but if they fail, the nuclear fuel in the six reactors could heat up uncontrollably for weeks, potentially leading to a meltdown.