Chernobyl

2022 - 3 - 10

Post cover — Image courtesy of "ABC News"

What we know about Chernobyl since Russia took control of the site ... (ABC News)

Russian forces have been in control of the defunct Chernobyl site since its invasion of Ukraine began, prompting concerns about the defunct nuclear site's ...

But the loss of communication means the Ukrainian regulator cannot provide updated information about the site to the IAEA — however the regulator has been able to confirm that there has been no damage to the structure and systems at the site. The IAEA is preparing to present ideas to both the Russian and Ukrainian authorities on how to ensure the safety of nuclear facilities in Ukraine as Russia's invasion continues. Before communications were lost from the site the information received by the Ukrainian regulator showed both of the power lines to the site had been damaged and had been disconnected from the grid. But the IAEA said the loss of power did not represent a critical impact to safety because the site had emergency power supplies in the way of diesel generators and batteries. The Ukrainian regulator said the staff had access to food and water, and a limited amount of medicine, while the IAEA said they were facing "psychological pressure and moral exhaustion". On Wednesday Ukraine informed the IAEA that it had lost all communications with the Chernobyl plant — a day after the site lost all external power supplies.

expert reaction to reports that the (a) IAEA has lost contact with ... (Science Media Centre)

There are reports that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has lost contact with Chernobyl nuclear data systems and that the Chernobyl site is ...

Some parts of the site might become off limits to the workers until the power is restored. In the unlikely event of a release of any radiation, this would be only to the immediate local area, and therefore not pose any threat to Western Europe – there would be no radioactive cloud. It is also important to note that drying out of the ponds will not cause a nuclear reaction or explosion to occur. I think that while it is important to avoid the cooling ponds drying out, the consequences of drying out the ponds will be far less than either the Chernobyl accident of 1987 or the more recent Fukushima accident. This should hopefully allow enough time for the power to cooling systems to be restored. By cutting off the power lines to Chernobyl the site will have to depend on their own generators, which will have a limited supply of diesel or gas. It may become much harder for workers to enter some parts of the site without full protective clothing, they may also have greater difficulty in changing in and out of their protective clothing. This prevents further degradation of Reactor number 4 and the hazardous exposed nuclear fuel within, and is essential to the future decommissioning of the site. “I think that drying out the ponds will generate a threat to workers rather than the general public. “The fuel in these pools is decades old, and hence has very little residual heat being generated. The lack of these safety systems is therefore a conditional concern.” Nevertheless, it is an unhealthy situation for both for staff at the site and the surrounding area.

Ukraine war: All contact with Chernobyl power plant has been lost ... (Sky News)

The plant, the scene of the world's worst nuclear accident in 1986, was taken over by Russian forces last week as part of their invasion of Ukraine.

Previously, staff at the plant communicated with Ukrainian regulatory authorities by email - but "all communications" were lost "the day after the Russian-controlled site lost all external power supplies", according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Previously, staff at the plant communicated with Ukrainian regulatory authorities by email but "all communications" were lost "the day after the Russian-controlled site lost all external power supplies", according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Ukraine has told the United Nations nuclear watchdog that all contact with the power plant at Chernobyl has been lost.

Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia power cuts: nervous wait as Ukraine ... (The Conversation UK)

The catastrophic disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1986 was caused by an explosion at the Reactor 4 Unit. This expelled a sizeable quantity ...

But if power is cut to one of the operating reactors, paired with substantial damage to backup generators, this could result in meltdown in the worst case. At Zaporizhzhia, the damaged power connection is undergoing repair – but it is difficult to get spare parts in the middle of a war. It is therefore necessary that the continued operation of radiation monitoring and ventilation systems within the New Safe Confinement structure remain online. In the case of Chernobyl, the spent fuel material has been out of the reactor for an adequate period of time and does not, therefore, require intensive cooling. If circulation is compromised, such as the recent power shutdowns, the fuel will continue to emit heat. They also provide a medium for heat transfer from the fuel to the water via continuous circulation of fresh, cool water.

The Situation at Chernobyl Is Deteriorating (unknown)

The defunct site of the infamous 1986 meltdown has lost power two weeks after it was seized by Russian forces. Experts fear that another nuclear disaster ...

On Wednesday, Rafael Mariano Grossi, director-general of the IAEA, tweeted that so far there is “no critical impact on safety,” although in a press statement the agency said that “the lack of power is likely to lead to a further deterioration of operational radiation safety at the site.” But on the same day, Ukrainian foreign minister Dmitro Kuleba wrote on Twitter that the limited power to cooling systems makes “radiation leaks imminent.” Without power, the site’s 1.5-billion-euro decommissioning program could be imperiled, Claire Corkhill, an expert on nuclear material degradation at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom, wrote on Twitter and in an email to WIRED. “To have a long-term loss of power is certainly a concern,” says Ed Lyman, a senior global security scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists and coauthor of the book Fukushima: The Story of a Nuclear Disaster. Some of Chernobyl’s waste has been transferred into dry casks, but considerable quantities of fuel rods remain in a pool that requires cooling.

Chernobyl power supply cut but IAEA says no imminent safety threat (unknown)

UN's nuclear watchdog voices concern over 'worsening' situation for staff at defunct Ukrainian plant. The Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 2021.

One of Ukraine’s four functioning nuclear power plants, Zaporizhzhia, the largest in Europe, is under Russian control after it was fired on with artillery. However, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said there was enough water in the spent fuel pools for the fuel rods to cool sufficiently to avoid an accident. In case of trouble-free operation, the stock of diesel fuel on diesel generators will be enough for 48 hours.”