Is the Zaporizhia NPP still cooled? After the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam that occurred on Tuesday, June 6 – for which it is still officially unknown – statements to the contrary raise doubts about the cooling of the reactors.
While the operator of the Ukrainian dam warned on Thursday that the water level was too low to ensure cooling, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed a few hours later that the plant in southern Ukraine – where the fighting continues – continues to pump water to cool the fuel and prevent an accident.
sequel after announcement
“The world is on the verge of a nuclear catastrophe”
On Tuesday morning, the world woke up to yet another catastrophe in Ukraine: the Kakhovka Dam in the Russian-occupied territories of the Kherson region of southern Ukraine. “fully” Demolition. As Moscow and Kiev accuse each other of responsibility, with thousands of residents being evacuated in the face of the threat of flooding and with the environmental consequences promising to be devastating, the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhya has become another issue.
The plant is located 150 kilometers from the dam, and uses the water reservoir to cool its reactors. With the dam now destroyed, the Ukrainian presidency has warned of a danger “nuclear disaster” from “increased quickly”. “The world is once again on the brink of a nuclear catastrophe”Regrets Chancellor Mikhalo Podolyak. Again, especially after the Russian bombings in March 2022 that kept the world in suspense for days.
Desiring to quell any panic after these statements, Agency tweets where you feel that there ‘There is no immediate nuclear threat’. The UN also specifies that its experts are on site Monitor the situation closely.. The director of the factory set up by the Russian occupiers confirms that there is no threat. “Five blocks are cold closed, one is in ‘closed hot’. The water level in the cooling pool remains unchanged.”He says.
Lower the minimum water level
There is no immediate danger but danger all the same? The Ukrainian company operating the dam, Ukrgidroenergo, estimates that it is the dam’s reservoir It should be operational within the next four days. But its level is decreasing in an alarming way. Damage to the dam It is currently causing a decrease of 5 centimeters per hour.Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
sequel after announcement
Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant: “They are all playing with fire”
In order for the cooling to take place, the water in the tank must not be less than 12.7 meters, with the risk of not being able to pump it and supply the cooling circuits of the station. And this is what happens after two days, if the head of the Ukrgidroenergo, Igor Sirota, believes us: the water level, “below the critical threshold of 12.7 meters”is no longer sufficient to supply “Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant Basins”Thursday, be warned.
In a press release published a few hours later, the International Atomic Energy Agency once again calmed down the Ukrainian statements, confirming that the Zaporizhia Power Plant continues to pump water from the reservoir of the Kakhovka Dam. After checking it turned out that the pumping should be To be able to continue even if the level drops below the current threshold of 12.7 metres.previously considered critical, explains the UN body, which now sets a maximum for “11 meters or less”. Nuclear danger is declining…at the same time as tolerance thresholds.
Dangerous Fukushima-style scenario
Expected to appear on the scene next week, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi justifies this drop in the bottom line: “In these difficult circumstances, this gives us more time before we turn to other sources of supply.” Because time is running out: water levels are falling and it is necessary to constantly cool the fuel in the reactor core in addition to that in the storage ponds. At risk of exposure to a scenario similar to what happened in Fukushima in Japan, the Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) warns.
But what other options are there? When the dam can no longer be used, the IAEA determines that the plant will be able to resort to it “A large holding basin located nearby as well as smaller reserves and wells on site that can provide cooling water for several months”. but for that, “It is imperative that this aquarium stay intact.”, alerts the example. Warning as fighting continues in the Zaporizhia region.
Meanwhile, the plant’s employees have already introduced measures to limit water consumption, and only its use “core activities related to nuclear security”. till when ?
