Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant cooling pond full despite critical water level in Kakhovka reservoir
The situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) remains stable and under control, despite the Russian occupiers' blowing up of the Kakhovka HPP dam, and the water level in the cooling pond is sufficient to meet the plant's needs.
Source: Energoatom, Ukrainian nuclear power company
Quote: "As of 08:00 on 9 June, the water level in the Kakhovka reservoir near Nikopol was 11.74 metres, and in the cooling pond of the ZNPP, it was 16.66 metres."
Details: Energoatom notes that this is sufficient to meet the needs of the plant.
Energoatom also pointed out that the ZNPP power units have been out of operation since September 2022, so there has been no active evaporation of water from the cooling pond since then.
Background:
- On 8 June, Ukrhydroenergo CEO Ihor Syrota said on air during the 24/7 national joint newscast that water intake from the Kakhovka reservoir was no longer possible, as the water level had dropped to a "dead point".
- At the same time, due to a drop in the water level in the Kakhovka reservoir after the Russian military blew up the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station, Energoatom allowed the last of the six power units of the occupied ZNPP, which is still in a state of hot shutdown, to be switched to the cold shutdown. After that, the ZNPP will not actually consume water, and there is enough of it in the cooling pond.
- If the units work, the plant can operate in this mode for 1-1.5 months without additional pond power sources. After that, the units need to be switched to a cold state, and under this condition, there will be water for quite a long time – possibly years, Energoatom explained.
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