Close call at Zaporizhzhia

The fire at the six-reactor Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant on March 4 prompted chilling warnings from Ukraine’s president and foreign minister of a nuclear disaster “10 times worse than Chornobyl” and “the end of Europe”. Ukraine’s nuclear regulator reports that Russian forces are in control of the plant but no radiation has been released. The fire, in an auxiliary building, has been extinguished. But, as Ukraine powers down its reactors — which provide 50% of the country’s electricity — there remains a real danger of loss of offsite power, which, along with an accidental or deliberate attack, put all 15 of Ukraine’s reactors in jeopardy as long as war persists. That could mean fuel pool fires or meltdowns. Beyond Nuclear continues to closely monitor the still unfolding situation.