The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest nuclear facility, is at the center of attention due to the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. The plant has been without external power for three consecutive days, an unprecedented duration, which has triggered serious concerns regarding the plant’s safety.
The nuclear plant requires a constant electricity supply for cooling the nuclear fuel to prevent melting. External power is crucial for this process. When external power is lost, backup diesel generators are used. The plant is currently operating on backup generators alone to maintain cooling. If the diesel supply is exhausted and not replenished, the reactors could escalate to a dangerous state within a matter of weeks.
Why the Power Cut?
The final high-voltage power line supplying the plant was damaged on Tuesday, according to Russia. Russia claims that repairs are difficult because of shelling by the Ukrainian military. But Ukraine maintains that it does not attack the plant due to the extremely high risks involved.
IAEA Chief Voices Alarm
Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has called the situation highly concerning. He met with Russian President Putin, but no solution has been reached. Greenpeace and Ukrainian officials are constantly cautioning that nuclear safety is being compromised.
What is Russia’s Motivation?
Ukraine and international experts believe that Russia is deliberately creating a crisis. Their aim is to show the world, and especially Ukraine, that only Russia can guarantee the security and operation of the plant.
* Russia is preparing to connect the plant to its own electricity grid.
* It is believed that Russia will soon attempt to restart a reactor to prove it can operate the plant independently.
* Greenpeace experts have observed satellite images of a 125-mile power line constructed by Russia from Mariupol, potentially for linking to the plant.
What is the Level of Risk?
After the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan, European regulators investigated how long a plant could function without external power. The outcome was a maximum of 72 hours. Zaporizhzhia has already exceeded this limit. While the reactors are currently in a cooled state, the immediate risk is not as intense as in Fukushima, but the long-term risks are considerable.