Blackout risk: ZNPP loses main power supply

Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP lost power from the main external power transmission line on the night of August 10, Energoatom, Ukraine’s national nuclear energy company, reported. The station was switched to the only available backup line after the incident, the disconnection of which threatened the loss of external power.

“In the case of this scenario, the main threat to nuclear and radiation safety is the presence of the 4th power unit of the Zaporizhzhia NPP in a hot shutdown mode, which the occupiers are using in violation of the terms of the license for the operation of nuclear power plant reactor facilities of the Ukrainian regulator (State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate),” Energoatom explained.

The state-owned enterprise explains that if a blackout occurs, the station’s main circulation pumps will be turned off, and the power unit will switch to natural circulation mode.

“In this case, it is necessary to urgently “cool down” it [the power unit] in the absence of cooling pumps,” said Taras Tkach, executive director for production and repairs of Energoatom.

This mode is difficult for the reactor plant and can lead to the failure of the main equipment of the power unit. Energoatom called for the immediate return of the ZNPP to the control of the legal operator to restore the facility’s nuclear and radiation safety.

“Continued occupation of the ZNPP by Russia, management of the plant by illegitimate and untrained racist management, which does not bear any responsibility for the nuclear and radiation safety of the facility, is constantly bringing the ZNPP closer to disaster,” Energoatom concluded.