Six-day blackout at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant sparks fears of nuclear disaster
State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate warns of nuclear accident risk at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant due to blackout (photo: Getty Images)
The lack of external power supply to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant from Ukraine's energy system poses significant threats to nuclear and radiation safety, according to a statement by Oleh Korikov, head of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate and Ukraine's chief state inspector for nuclear and radiation safety.
The Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been disconnected from Ukraine's power grid for six days, and backup diesel generators are maintaining the operation of its safety systems and other critical systems.
"Ignoring the requirements and principles of nuclear and radiation safety, the shelling of power transmission lines by Russian forces and their damage, as well as creating obstacles for Ukrainian specialists to restore these lines — all these actions could lead to the worst-case scenario," said Korikov.
According to him, it is currently unknown what reserves of diesel fuel remain at the plant site and how long the diesel generators can continue to operate to power the safety systems and other systems vital to the plant's safety.
He stressed that the primary concern is the operation of the cooling systems for the spent nuclear fuel stored in all six reactors and in the spent fuel pools.
Korikov emphasized that if Russian forces do not soon create the necessary conditions to restore the plant's connection to Ukraine's power grid, and if the diesel fuel at the site runs out, an emergency could develop with radiological consequences not only for Ukraine but also for European countries.
Blackout at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant
On September 23, Energoatom reported that the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant experienced its tenth blackout since the start of the full-scale war. Russian forces are deliberately not reconnecting the plant to the power supply.
The company specified that the last external power transmission line linking the plant to Ukraine's energy system had stopped functioning.
As a result, the plant switched to backup diesel generators for power.
Such a situation could lead to a nuclear accident, as external power is essential for cooling the nuclear reactors.
According to experts, the prolonged blackout at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant poses a risk of a Fukushima-type scenario.
