IAEA comments on electricity availability at Chernobyl nuclear power plant

MINSK, 10 March (BelTA) – The International Atomic Energy Agency has released some information about the safe operation of Ukrainian nuclear power installations. The information relied on data provided by the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine, BelTA has learned.

According to the source, at present the Chernobyl nuclear power plant site is disconnected from the power grid and has lost access to external power supplied by the 750kV Kiev power line. Diesel generators are used to power up safety systems at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Three decommissioned installations, from which nuclear fuel has been removed, are located at the site. The Shelter Structure above the fourth unit of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, facilities for processing radioactive waste, and facilities for storing spent nuclear fuel are also located at the site.

The International Atomic Energy Agency agreed with the Ukrainian regulatory authority that the power outage will not critically affect primary safety functions at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant site. In particular, spent nuclear fuel storage facilities have sufficient reserves of cooling water in order to effectively dissipate heat without access to electricity. Nevertheless, the site needs to be reconnected to the power grid in order to keep the situation stable.

There are four high-voltage (750kV) offsite power lines and one backup power line at the site of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant. Two of them have been damaged. The nuclear power plant now has access to two power lines and one backup power line. The nuclear power plant's demand for external power can be satisfied using one power line. Diesel generators also stand by to provide backup power.

On the whole, eight out of 15 reactors, including two reactors at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, continue operating at Ukrainian nuclear power plants. BelTA reported earlier that the power line connecting the 330kV substation Mozyr and power grid installations of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant has been energized, which allows supplying electricity to installations of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

Radiation levels at Ukrainian nuclear energy installations remain normal.