The State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU) has issued an order dated February 10, banning the operation of power units 3-6 of the Zaporizhzhya NPP at energy power level due to inability to eliminate violations of nuclear and radiation safety requirements. Changes to the license for operation of power units 1 and 2 of the Zaporizhzhya NPP were made by the SNRIU order dated August 18, 2022.

This was reported by the press service of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine.

“The ZNPP site is exposed to periodic shelling, and the power transmission lines connected to the energy system of Ukraine have been damaged”, the regulator reports.

The SNRIU also adds that ZNPP production facilities, such as information and crisis center, cannot be used as intended due deployment of the russian military there. And as a result of the plant occupation, the operator NNEGC “Energoatom” has no adequate opportunities to supply the commodities and materials to the Zaporizhzhya NPP.

“The russian occupiers are illegally constructing unknown structures at the site (on the territory of Dry Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility and near the standby diesel generation station of power unit 6), which is a violation of the ZNPP design documentation”, the regulator said.

Moreover, violations of the requirements of the legislation, norms, standards and rules for nuclear and radiation safety, permits, specifically the license for operation of nuclear installation, were found. “As a result of the site occupation by the russian military, functioning of the physical protection system of the nuclear facility is not ensured. Due to the occupation and pressure (psychological and physical) exerted by the russian invaders, there is no appropriate staffing of the plant with the personnel who have the direct right to control the reactor facility. The officials who bear organizational and administrative functions in ensuring nuclear and radiation safety, who have the appropriate licenses provided for by Ukrainian legislation, are not allowed by invaders to the ZNPP site.

Therefore, the SNRIU order limits the operation:

It is added that the restrictions will remain in effect until the identified violations are eliminated. The operation of these nuclear installations at energy power levels can only be permitted after a detailed inspection by the SNRIU of the ZNPP site, verification of all structures, systems and elements of the nuclear power plant. That is, after the de-occupation, demilitarization of the ZNPP and its return under the full control of the Government of Ukraine.

We would like to remind that in August, when the SNRIU Board discussed the proposal to change the condition of the operating license for cold shutdown of ZNPP power units 1 and 2, the proposal was to introduce a similar condition for all power units, but the Regulator refused.