Starting the Chernobyl NPP to provide electricity in winter: experts warn against a risky idea

With growing concerns about Ukraine’s energy security in the winter period, the issue of resuming work at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is becoming a subject of lively discussion. In the conditions of electricity shortage and uncertain prospects for the coming months, some citizens are wondering: isn’t it time to return to work the three power units of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, which functioned before 2000? However, despite the temptation to obtain an additional 3 GW of energy, experts strongly warn: the resumption of operation of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant may lead to unforeseen consequences that may prove fatal for the country.

As a result of Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy in the spring of this year, we lost 9 GW of power generation, destroyed and significantly damaged power plants. As a result, in July, electricity was sometimes turned off for 8-12 hours, and electricity tariffs had to be significantly increased. At the same time, the Chornobyl NPP has 3 power units with a total capacity of 3 GW, which have not been operating for a long time. Accordingly, ordinary citizens thought about whether it is possible to return the Chernobyl nuclear power plant to work and thereby help the energy system of Ukraine and prevent blackouts.

Back around 2010, former engineers from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant said in private conversations that it was possible to restore electricity production at the station, but this would require very expensive modernization. Let’s get acquainted with the opinions of experts, which they provided Informant.

Doctor of physical and mathematical sciences, professor, nuclear energy expert Ludvig Lytvynskyi considers:

“There was no urgent need for the operation of power units at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant until 2000, it was rather a political decision of the Soviet authorities from the point of view of showing that nothing happened, everything is fine. That is why they resumed work. And after the site was somewhere still washed, cleaned, they could still use the station for power generation, but a significant effort was needed for modernization (it was done). Further operation, in my opinion, was wrong, because the project itself turned out to be dangerous. This was well proven by the accidents that preceded the Chornobyl tragedy in 1986 on this type of blocks”.

According to Ludvig Lytvynskyi, it is fundamentally impossible to restore the operation of power units at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. There is no fuel for these power units (they are produced by Rosatom in the Russian Federation). The systems there all broke down a long time ago, because no one maintained them. In general, power units of this type are dangerous, as they do not meet modern requirements for nuclear and radiation safety.

Yury Korolchuk, expert of the Institute of Energy Strategies stated that talks about resuming work at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant are another “ridiculous idea” and a “simple solution”. He notes that after 2000, when the last power unit at the Chernobyl NPP was shut down, it was still possible to start operation of the station for some time. However, it is dangerous, and if you have to choose – the risk of a nuclear accident or citizens without electricity in relative safety, then the second looks more attractive.

Andrian Prokip, expert on energy issues of the Ukrainian Institute of the Future considers:

“These units are of increased danger, the EU demanded the closure of the units at the RDMK reactors, paid money for it. First, if we wanted to resume the operation of the old power units, this would create a significant number of problems with our donors.

The second is fuel and maintenance of these reactors. If the fuel for the EPR reactors is sold to us by Westinghouse, then only Rosatom can supply the fuel for the RDMK reactors (as at the Chernobyl NPP).

Thirdly, only Rosatom can carry out any modernization of such power units. The option is absolutely absurd, not to mention how much money and time it would take to bring the reactors to such a state that it would be safe to operate. These units are not in a condition where they can be operated safely. A nuclear power unit is an installation that has a specific service life. This is also the argument regarding the Chernobyl blocks. After 24 years of idleness, the question is whether they can be operated at all in project mode.”

Former Minister of Fuel and Energy of Ukraine Ivan Plachkov (1999, 2005-2006) noted that the reactors of the Chornobyl NPP are fundamentally different from those currently used at the operating NPPs of Ukraine. He claims that nuclear warheads, like Chernobyl, are made from military brooder reactors used to enrich radioactive substances for weapons.

The ex-minister emphasized that there are no technologies to modernize and bring the old RVPK reactors to the required level of safety. He added that there are no licensed nuclear personnel for such work. A lot of work has been done on the decontamination of the site itself at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. There were dangerous substances.

“Resuming the operation of the old power units at the Chernobyl NPP was impossible according to legislation, because the law was passed. I think the automation and electrical part have already failed. Technically, if you try to do something similar, it will cost no less, maybe even more, than the construction of new power units at the Khmelnytskyi NPP. The reactor itself, the power unit, cannot operate by itself. And the construction of the infrastructure may cost as much as the power unit. It is impractical and technically impossible.” Plachkov noted.

He also believes that it is better to focus on the completion of the construction of units at the already existing nuclear power plants of Ukraine, such as Khmelnytskyi, Rivne and Yuzhnoukrainskyi. According to him, this would be a more expedient and economically beneficial solution than resuming the operation of the old units of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

Deputy Chairman of the Atomprofspilka Pavlo Prudnikov stated that it is prohibited in Europe to use the RVPK power units installed in Chernobyl. Therefore, they were decommissioned in Lithuania at the Ignalina NPP in 2009. However, similar ones continue to be used at the Kursk (in the city of Kurchatov), ​​Leningrad and Smolensk nuclear power plants in Russia. And if Ukraine decided to use such power units again, it would violate its laws and agreements with partners, which could lead to serious consequences.

“Since 2000, the equipment has been dismantled at the Chernobyl NPP, the fuel has been unloaded, the units are all in a non-working condition. It is even technologically impossible to start them now. Everything has been unloaded into holding pools. After 2000, they could be started for several years. The equipment was already in operation impossible

In Chernobyl, there is an opportunity to build new, modern energy facilities, such as solar, gas or wind plants, or even modern nuclear power units. However, decisions regarding such projects are made taking into account long-term prospects, not current needs. In particular, the construction of new nuclear units requires significant funding and time, which makes this option unlikely in the short term.” – said Prudnikov.

Oleg Popenko, head of the Union of Utility Consumers also confirms that the launch of old power units at the Chernobyl NPP does not make sense from the point of view of the current energy situation. According to him, this step will not affect the current electricity shortage, which needs an immediate solution. Even if we start building new units now, it will take 7 to 15 years, which will not help solve the problem already this winter.

In general, the issue of resuming work at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant remains highly controversial. Although the lack of electricity is a serious problem, the risks associated with the return to operation of old reactors may turn out to be much more dangerous. Experts call for caution and balance in decision-making, stressing the need to develop new, safe energy sources that meet modern standards of safety and economic feasibility.