The Ukrainian operator Ukrenergo had reported this Wednesday that the power supply of the power plant Chernobyl and of its security teams is “totally” cut off due to Russian military actions.
“There is no possibility of re-establishing the lines” as the offensive is ongoing, the Ukrainian operator said.
the plant of Chernobyllocated in an exclusion zone, includes decommissioned reactors –including reactor number 4 covered in a sarcophagus– and radioactive waste facilities.
According to the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, the plant has “emergency generators with a capacity of 48 hours”.
“After that, the deposited fuel cooling systems are going to stop,” Kuleba warned on Twitter.
However, according to the IAEA, taking into account the time that has elapsed since the catastrophe of Chernobyl in 1986, “the thermal load of the spent fuel tank pool and the volume of cooling water are sufficient to ensure efficient heat removal without electricity.”
“The IAEA does not see a great impact on security,” adds this agency dependent on the UN
More than 200 technicians and guards are blocked at the site and have been working for 13 days straight under Russian surveillance.
The IAEA asked Russia to allow staff rotation because rest and regular work schedules are crucial to site safety.