Energoatom Warned of a Critical Safety Situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant
The current situation at the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant indicates a systematic undermining of the fundamental principles of nuclear safety, and the prolonged use of diesel generators poses critical threats.
The plant has been without external power since August 20, causing it to switch to emergency diesel generators for the 27th time since the start of the full-scale invasion. On September 5, Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, announced a local ceasefire to restore external power supply.
For more than two weeks, the Russians have been using emergency generators as their primary power sources under non-design operating conditions. Due to constant cyclic starts and load switching, there is an increased risk of failure of the start-up automation and equipment due to a common cause. Even if all units are in “cold shutdown” mode, a complete power outage threatens to result in the loss of control over key safety systems, spent nuclear fuel storage pools, and operational parameters.
Energoatom reported this on Facebook.
The Zaporizhzhia NPP recorded its 27th blackout since the occupation of the plant began
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