The Ukrainian company that manages the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhiaoccupied by Russian troops, energoatomwarned that the plant is running out of power and could suffer a blackout.
According to a statement, “on August 10 the Zaporizhia nuclear power planttemporarily occupied, lost connection with its main external power transmission line.
After the loss of connection with its main transmission line, with a voltage of 750 kv, the plant now depends on a single backup power line, of 330 kv, which implies a power loss.
The disconnection of this only available backup line would suppose a fatal nuclear power plant blackout.
Energoatom warned that there is a “threat to nuclear and radiological safety» in this scenario, as a disconnection of your power unit would imply a «warm shutdown» state.
Energoatom’s interim executive director of operation and repairs, Taras Tkachwarned that “in the event of a total loss of external power, the power plant’s reactor coolant pumps will be turned off and the power unit will switch to natural circulation mode.”
In that case, he explained, “it will need to be cooled down urgently given the lack of cooling pumps”.
In its statement, Energoatom blamed the Russian occupation forces for the delicate situation in which the plant finds itself: “It’s steadily bringing us closer to disaster».
In this sense, Energoatom forcefully denounced that Russia is exercising “the nuclear terrorism» in Zaporizhia.
Russian attack
The risk of disconnection of the nuclear power plant coincides with a Russian attack on the city of Zaporizhia that has left three dead and several injured, including an 11-month-old baby.
The Russian projectile hit a neighborhood on the outskirts of the city, sparking a fire that destroyed a shopping center, while the shock wave damaged several apartment blocks.
