Resuming the operation of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant units is impossible without access to the Kakhovka reservoir — Former head of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate

On March 6, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi held a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the situation at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). Earlier, the Russians had expressed their intention to restart the reactors at ZNPP. Georgiy Plachkov, the former head of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate, shared insights on Hromadske Radio regarding the feasibility of such actions and their potential threat to the plant’s safety.

Plachkov highlighted the precarious state of the nuclear power plant, where five power units are in a cold shutdown, and one is in a hot shutdown. He underscored significant risks due to the plant relying on a single high-voltage power line with no backup lines. Access to licensed personnel is challenging, as only eight shift supervisors remain on-site. Plachkov asserted that restarting the power units without access to the Kakhovka reservoir is impossible, as there would not be enough water for cooling reactors and generating electricity.

Despite the existing threat of an accident at Zaporizhzhya NPP, Plachkov downplayed the likelihood of an incident on the scale of Chernobyl or Fukushima, emphasizing that most power units are in a state of cold shutdown. However, he warned that a local accident could occur if a constant power supply is not provided, and licensed specialists are not allowed to work. Plachkov expressed concern about Rosatom recruiting personnel from Russian nuclear power plants or other facilities, citing the risks associated with insufficient training for handling ZNPP equipment changes.

Regarding international influence, Plachkov suggested that the international community, especially the IAEA, could impose additional restrictions on Rosatom and the Russian Federation to address the situation at ZNPP. He proposed measures such as revoking Russia’s IAEA membership and imposing sanctions on Rosatom, emphasizing that such actions might impact the situation. However, he acknowledged the challenges, noting that Russia remains influential due to its significant presence in the European Union and its role in the IAEA, making adherence to international law difficult to enforce. The situation, therefore, remains tense.