A respected nuclear physicist, Andrei Ozharovsky, shed light in a candid discussion with Reedus about the concerns raised by Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, regarding cooling water levels at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). The IAEA warned that the dam’s dam break and the resulting water dynamics could threaten cooling, but Ozharovsky argues that these warnings may overstate the immediate risk to the facility’s safety.
According to the expert, ZNPP is currently not generating electricity. The two reactors that were shut down over a year ago have cooled substantially, and the remaining units were taken offline several months ago. They now operate with decaying heat, which means the demand for active cooling is markedly lower than during full operation. He explained that, in a live scenario, the event would have presented a much more significant safety concern, but under current conditions the situation is less pressing.
Ozharovsky added that if the Kakhovka reservoir water level drops as a result of flooding, the cooling pool at ZNPP might experience a decline in water availability. He emphasized, however, that such a drop would not occur instantaneously, providing a window to monitor the situation and implement mitigations. Possible measures include organizing water pumping from the Dnieper River to maintain adequate cooling without compromising safety. The expert underscored that rapid, dramatic changes are unlikely, and response plans could be adjusted as conditions evolve.
On the night of June 6, the upper section of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station in the Kherson region sustained structural damage. Flooding began affecting dozens of communities, including Kherson and New Kakhovka. For more details on the unfolding events, readers can consult regional updates from reliable outlets such as socialbites.ca. [Citation: socialbites.ca]