Head of Energoatom: russia's plan to disconnect Zaporizhzhia NPP from Ukrainian energy system will increase risk of catastrophic failure

Russia has prepared a detailed plan to disconnect the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant from Ukraine's power grid in the event of an "emergency" that threatens a "catastrophic failure". This was stated by head of the Energoatom Ukrainian company Petro Kotin, in an interview with The Guardian, - Radio Liberty reports.

The shutdown could lead to the failure of its cooling systems and potentially lead to a nuclear catastrophe, the head of Energoatom warns.

According to Kotin, russian engineers presented the plan to the ZNPP workers, who passed it on to Energoatom, which is the operator of all Ukraine's nuclear power plants. The plan will be implemented if there is "serious damage to all lines connecting the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant with the Ukrainian energy system".

Kotin reported that the power supply of the station is already in critical condition. According to him, three of the four main power lines and two of the three backup lines were damaged at the ZNPP during the war.

According to Kotin, the russian plan to disconnect the Zaporizhzhia NPP from the Ukrainian energy system will increase the risk of its catastrophic failure. During the switchover to the russian power grid, the nuclear reactor cooling system will depend on a single standby diesel generator. If it fails, there are 90 minutes to try to cool the fuel down, then it will start to melt.

In addition, Kotin fears that in the event of a fire in the engine rooms, which are located next to the operating reactors, the fire will not be extinguished "because all the entrances are blocked by trucks". According to him, there are 14 trucks in one workshop and at least six in another. The flame can spread to the reactor buildings, and then the fire will have catastrophic consequences far beyond the region.

Kotin also told about the "campaign of terror" against the ZNPP workers. According to him, one was beaten to death, another was seriously injured and more than 200 people are currently detained. Kotin reported that nine thousand people are now on duty at the ZNPP, out of the eleven thousand who worked at the plant before the start of the russian invasion of Ukraine.

As reported, Energoatom called for the deployment of Western peacekeepers at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.