19 August 2022, Friday, 11:38 270

Shutdown of all Zaporizhzhia NPP power units may lead to development of Fukushima-like scenario

Редактор: Roman Vaniyan

The State Inspection of Nuclear Regulation of Ukraine declares that the shutdown of all power units of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (Enerhodar, Zaporizhzhia region) may lead to the development of a situation similar to the "Fukushima scenario."

That follows from a statement by the Inspection, reports Ukrainian News Agency.

"The shutdown of all power units of the Zaporizhzhia NPP and the loss of all power sources can lead to the failure of the cooling systems and damage to the active zone of the reactor plant and the release of radioactive substances into the environment. It was under this scenario that the accident at the Japanese nuclear power plant "Fukushima-1" occurred in 2011. However, if the disaster in Japan occurred due to natural disasters, then at the Zaporizhzhia NPP it may occur due to the criminal actions and intentions of the occupying forces of the Russian Federation," the message reads.

The notification states that the NPP must have a constant power supply to ensure uninterrupted supply of its own needs - cooling of nuclear fuel in the active zones of reactor installations and cooling of spent fuel in holding pools, support of control and management systems.

These needs are met either by operating power units or by external power supply. When all power units are stopped, a stable external power supply must be ensured.

"Currently, as a result of shelling by Russian troops, three of the four lines that connect the NPP to the energy system of Ukraine have been damaged. If the fourth line is damaged, the plant will lose the opportunity to receive electricity for its own needs. In case of such an emergency situation, the Zaporizhzhia NPP has diesel generators, but they will need a sufficient amount of diesel fuel to sustain the plant's own needs for a long time and to cool the nuclear fuel. The Russian military, which is present at the NPP, can interfere with the supply of diesel fuel necessary for the operation of the generators. After the loss of all sources of electricity supply, the process of nuclear meltdown will begin. As a result, the release of radioactive substances into the environment may occur," the message states.

At the same time, the development of emergency events at the Zaporizhzhia NPP will not be limited to regional problems of Ukraine, but may have cross-border consequences.

"Depending on the weather conditions, the radioactive cloud can be carried to the territory of Europe, or Russia and Belarus, which will lead to radioactive contamination of large areas. It should also be noted that the Zaporizhzhia NPP is located on the shore of the Kakhovka reservoir, which is a cascade of reservoirs of the Dnieper River. Thus, emergency events at the Zaporizhzhia NPP may lead to radioactive pollution of the Dnipro and the Black Sea," the message states.

As reported by Ukrainian News Agency, on August 18, the Ministry of Defense of Russia announced the possible shutdown of the Zaporizhzhia NPP.

Also, on August 18, the Ministry of Defense of Russia announced that Ukraine was allegedly preparing a "resonant provocation" at the Zaporizhzhia NPP on August 19.

For its part, on August 18, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported that the Russian occupying forces were preparing a provocation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

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