LAST UPDATE: 15.50
Ukrainian authorities do not know the level of radioactivity at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, as they have no new ones after it was occupied by Russian troops, Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said on Wednesday.
In fact, according to the state administrator of the national power grid Ukrenergo, Russian forces appear to have shut down the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
As reported, “the power supply of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and its security systems have been cut off” completely “due to Russian military actions.”
Radioactive substances are likely to escape from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant because the used nuclear fuel can not be cooled after the power outage, said the Ukrainian state-owned company Energoatom, which operates Ukraine’s four nuclear power plants.
Work to restore the grid connection and power supply to the nuclear power plant, which has been occupied by Russian military forces, is not possible due to the hostilities, Energoatom said.
The Chernobyl plant is in a blockade zone and includes inactive nuclear reactors and radioactive waste facilities.
More than 200 technicians and security guards have been trapped at the facility, working continuously for 13 days under Russian surveillance.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has asked Russia to allow them alternating shifts, breaks and fixed schedules, which are key elements of the facility’s safety.
“I am very concerned about the difficult and stressful situation of the staff at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and about the potential dangers that this situation poses to nuclear safety,” warned IAEA chief Rafael Grossi.
D. Kulempa: Temporary ceasefire to carry out restoration work
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said Russia should declare a temporary ceasefire to allow power to be restored at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, warning that there could be a radioactive leak if the outage continued.
“The backup diesel generators have a 48-hour power supply capacity at the Chernobyl plant. After that, the cooling systems of the used fuel storage tank will stop working and radioactive leaks will be imminent,” he wrote on Twitter.
Reserve diesel generators have a 48-hour capacity to power the Chornobyl NPP. After that, cooling systems of the storage facility for spent nuclear fuel will stop, making radiation leaks imminent. Putin’s barbaric war puts entire Europe in danger. He must stop it immediately! 2/2
– Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) March 9, 2022
IAEA: The Chernobyl blackout has no significant impact on safety
The power outage at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant “does not have a significant impact on safety,” the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a statement, informing Ukrainian authorities of a power outage at Ukraine’s nuclear power plant.
“Since the Chernobyl accident of 1986,” the thermal load of the waste fuel storage pool and the volume of cooling water are capable of ensuring the release of heat without electricity, “the IA explained on Twitter. .
#Ukraine has informed IAEA of power loss at #Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, @rafaelmgrossi says development violates key safety pillar on ensuring uninterrupted power supply; in this case the IAEA sees no critical impact on safety.
– IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency (@iaeaorg) March 9, 2022
Hours earlier, the IAEA had announced that the remote transmission of data from control systems had stopped.
The IAEA was referring to the cameras and other instruments installed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as part of its mission to monitor the peaceful nature of nuclear programs around the world.
Normal levels of radioactivity in Zaporizhia
Meanwhile, levels of radioactivity around the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant are normal, with repairs being made to a block damaged by fighting with Russian troops, Petro Kotin, head of the state-owned nuclear power company Energoatom, said on Wednesday. Reuters.
Source: Capital
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