![]() ![]() In addition, the RBMK reactors were graphite-moderated which meant that they burned at high temperatures contributing to the enormous amount and height of the radioactive plume from the accident. Chernobyl reactors used slightly-enriched uranium and consequently the fuel in its core was approximately 200 tonnes, which in Light Water Reactors would be closer to 30 tonnes in weight. The amount of fuel in the core can vary considerably depending on the size of the reactor and the type of fuel that is used, and whether the uranium is enriched or not. ![]() The core of a nuclear power plant holds the radioactive fuel that powers the reactor. Given the longevity of the consequences and the changing political circumstances with the break-up of the USSR in 1992, assessing the economic consequences is uncertain but will run into hundreds of billions of dollars.Īlthough Zaporizhzhia uses enriched uranium, its current VVER reactors are not moderated by graphite, but by water, which means they are safer and will not burn in the way of Chernobyl. The accident also had a significant impact in Ukraine with around 350,000 people evacuated because of the accident and a further 600,000 people registered as emergency and recovery workers. The monitoring of livestock grazing on land in the UK contaminated by the accident was only lifted in 2012. In April 1986, Ukraine suffered the world’s worst nuclear power accident at Chernobyl, which resulted in radioactive material being spread across continental Europe. Probably more than any country in the world, Ukraine is aware of the consequences of an explosion and fire at a nuclear power plant. In early August the president of Ukraine’s nuclear energy agency Energoatom said Russia wanted to connect the Zaporizhzhia power plant to the Crimean grid and there are other power stations in the region including coal-fired and hydroelectric. The Ukrainian authorities want to increase the volume of electricity exported to the EU to raise revenues and are frustrated by the slow and gradual increase that the network for European Grid operators (ENTSOE) are requiring to ensure grid stability. ![]() Work which was expected to take one year was completed in two weeks. ![]() Prior to the 2022 invasion, plans were already in place to disconnect the Ukrainian grid from Russia to the European Union (EU) and, on 24 February, Ukraine decoupled its grid from Russia and operated in isolation until 16 March when it became synchronized to the EU. Zaporizhzhia is host to six Soviet-designed and built VVER light water reactors, which are safer and more proliferation-resistant.Įach of these reactors has an original design output of 950 MW, meaning they produce a significant amount of energy. Nuclear power provided 55 per cent of Ukraine’s electricity in 2021, from 15 reactors at four different power stations. In early August, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant once again came under attack, and shelling led to damage in the non-radioactive elements of the facility, including power lines. On 19 April, communication between the plant and the Ukrainian regulator was restored. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN body charged with overseeing the civil nuclear industry, has subsequently been involved in delivering equipment and restoring the safeguards monitoring system. Russian forces also took control of the Chernobyl site on 24 February and held it for five weeks before withdrawing on 31 March. Despite the military confrontation, Ukrainian staff have continued to operate the plant and continue to do so to this day.Īlthough the shelling of the station did not result in the release of radiation, Olexiy Kovynyevis, an independent expert and former reactor supervisor, reports that shells hit the turbine buildings as well as the external power supply which was ‘almost completely disrupted’. The unprecedented attack on Zaporizhzhia was followed by a military takeover of the facility on 4 March. Within days of the start of the war, Russian forces sought to take control of nuclear facilities in the north of Ukraine (Chernobyl) and in the southeast at Zaporizhzhia. Zaporizhzhia, one of the world’s largest nuclear power stations, is situated on the southern bank of the Dnipro River and, as of early August, in a region controlled by Russian military forces. Antony Froggatt and Dr Patricia Lewis explain the background of the nuclear facility and assess the possible risks. ![]()
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