What happened? The State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU) has banned the operation of units 3, 4, 5, 6 of the Zaporizhzhia NPP due to the inability to eliminate the identified violations of nuclear and radiation safety requirements.
Source. SNRIU press service on Facebook.
Details. It is noted that the SNRIU, when issuing this order, took into account that the industrial site of the Zaporizhzhia NPP was subject to periodic shelling, and overhead communication lines with the energy system of Ukraine were damaged.
In addition, the production facilities of the ZNPP, including the information and crisis centre, cannot be used for their intended purpose due to the presence of the russian military, and as a result of the occupation, the operating organisation of SE NNEGC Energoatom does not have adequate opportunities to supply inventories to the Zaporizhzhia NPP.
"These facts indicate a violation of the fundamental principles of ensuring the safety of nuclear power plants as the implementation of the strategy of deep defence, ensuring a culture of safety, and the responsibility of the operating organisation," the statement reads.
Moreover, violations of the requirements of the legislation, norms, rules and standards on nuclear and radiation safety, permits, including licences for the operation of nuclear facilities, were found.
Due to the occupation of the industrial site by the russian military, the functioning of the physical protection system of the nuclear facility is not ensured, the SNRIU adds.