“Disconnection of Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant from Ukraine’s Power Grid Is Fraught with Risk of an International Disaster,” Acting Chief Inspector for Nuclear Safety

The ZNPP disconnection from Ukraine’s power grid is fraught with the risk of an international disaster. Oleh Korikov, Acting Chairman – Chief State Inspector for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of Ukraine, stated this during his briefing at Media Center Ukraine.

According to him, the ZNPP systems are currently connected to the Ukrainian power grid and supplied with the energy needed to cool down the inoperable power units.

“By now, the ZNPP’s link to Ukraine’s power grid has been restored; accordingly, we were able to place Zaporizhia Unit 6 in a cold shutdown condition. However, it is very important to maintain this link to the Ukrainian grid to supply power to the safety systems,” Oleh Korikov explained.

However, if the invaders sever the link supplying power to the ZNPP from the Ukrainian grid, the power for safety systems will be generated with diesel generators. The lack of diesel fuel threatens to cause an accident at the power plant.

“The stock of fuel is not limitless. We have enough fuel for about 10 days of operation of these diesel generators… It is extremely difficult now to deliver more diesel fuel to the non-controlled territory. A grave accident becomes possible if the plant is deenergized and the diesel fuel is used up. I mean, an accident of nuclear fuel meltdown kind with the discharge of nuclear products, including into the atmosphere, in amounts comparable to Fukushima and Chornobyl,” Oleh Korikov indicated.

On September 11, ZNPP Unit 6 was disconnected from Ukraine’s power grid. It is being prepared for the cooldown and subsequent cold shutdown.

Read more: https://mediacenter.org.ua/news