Shutting down Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant may cause radiation leak as in Fukushima - State Inspectorate for Nuclear Regulation

The State Nuclear Regulation Inspection of Ukraine shared the news.

"The shutdown of all power units of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant 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 occurred at the Japanese nuclear power plant Fukushima-1 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 statement said.

The State Inspectorate explained that the nuclear power plant 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 at the expense of operating power units or at the expense of 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 Ukrainian power system have been damaged. In the event of damage to the fourth line, the station will lose the opportunity to receive electricity for its own needs," explains the inspection. 

Diesel generators are available at the station for such a case, but they will need a sufficient amount of fuel to provide the station's own needs for a long time and to cool the nuclear fuel.

"The Russian military, who are present at the nuclear power plant, can prevent the supply of diesel, which is necessary for the operation of the generators. After the loss of all sources of electricity supply, the process of melting nuclear fuel will begin, as a result of which radioactive substances may be released into the environment," inspection warns.

The inspection emphasizes that the consequences of the accident at the ZNPP will not be limited to the territory of Ukraine.

"There are seven nuclear facilities at the Zaporizhzhia NPP - these are six power units and a dry storage of spent nuclear fuel. Therefore, the development of emergency events at the ZNPP will not be limited to regional problems of Ukraine, but may have cross-border consequences. Depending on weather conditions, a radioactive cloud may 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 ZNPP is located on the shore of the Kakhovsky Reservoir, which is a cascade of reservoirs of the Dnipro River. Thus, emergency events at the ZNPP can lead to radioactive contamination of the Dnipro and the Black Sea," department warns.

The inspection noted that in the new conditions, the nuclear safety of the ZNPP is supported by the Ukrainian staff of the station.