By KYIV. Nov 7 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Energoatom, on behalf of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU), has already begun to analyze the impact of a possible explosion of a dam at the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) on the safety of operation of the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP).
"Given the information about the mining of a dam of the Kakhovka reservoir, locks and pillars of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant and, accordingly, a high threat of blowing up these structures, Energoatom, at the request of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate, is urgently analyzing the impact of the consequences that such an explosion will have on the safety of operation of the Zaporizhia NPP," the company said on its Telegram channel on Monday.
At the same time, they emphasized that the destruction of these facilities could lead to an irreversible drop in the water level in the Kakhovka reservoir, from which cooling water is supplied to ZNPP.
"The results of the analysis, as well as a list of priority compensatory measures to ensure the safety of operation of ZNPP power units in the mode of loss of the cooling water supply from the Kakhovka reservoir, will be sent to the SNRIU no later than November 9, 2022," Energoatom assured.
As reported with reference to a source at the SNRIU, the inspectorate instructed Energoatom to urgently analyze the safety of operation of the power units at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in the absence of the cooling water supply due to a drop in the water level of the Kakhovka reservoir below water intake marks. Such a document is necessary for the inspectorate to make decisions on the ZNPP operation in connection with information about the mining of the Kakhovka HPP and the threat of a possible dam explosion.
