The water level in the cooling pond of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) has fallen by just over 3.2 metres since the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in June 2023. Over the past three months alone, it has decreased by nearly 60 centimetres.

The water level in the cooling pond of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) has fallen by just over 3.2 metres since the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in June 2023. Over the past three months alone, it has decreased by nearly 60 centimetres.

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Details: The Russian administration has decided to build an isolating dam in the channel of the cooling pond that supplies water to several systems of the plant, the IAEA notes.

Currently, the ZNPP is using mobile pumps to transfer water from the main cooling pond into the specified cooling channel, which has a height of about 14.1 metres.

This allows other pumps to supply cooling water to the transformers of the main reactor unit and other critical operating systems.

“We will continue to monitor this matter very closely, as reliable access to cooling water is essential for nuclear safety and security,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.

Last weekend, an IAEA team inspected another important part of the ZNPP’s cooling system – 12 sprinkler ponds, which are supplied with water from groundwater wells drilled after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam.

These ponds provide water for cooling the reactors and spent fuel, as well as other safety-related systems. The team confirmed that all ponds are filled.

“The extremely fragile off-site power situation and difficulties related to access to cooling water continue to be two of the most challenging areas for nuclear safety and security at the ZNPP,” the agency emphasised.

Background:

It was earlier reported that IAEA experts were denied access to the newly constructed dam on the channel of one of the cooling ponds of the Zaporizhzhia NPP.On 13 August, the IAEA reported difficulties in ensuring a reliable supply of water for cooling the reactors at the Zaporizhzhia NPP, which is temporarily occupied by Russia.“The ZNPP’s six reactors have been in cold shutdown since spring 2024 but still require cooling water for their safety systems, reactor cores, and spent fuel pools,” the IAEA reported.On 10 August, the External Crisis Centre of Zaporizhzhia NPP was damaged in a Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia.On 4 July, Russian forces caused a blackout at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant by striking a transmission line connecting the plant with Ukraine’s unified power grid.Later, it was reported that the power lines connecting Zaporizhzhia NPP to the Ukrainian power grid were operating normally, providing reliable external power to the plant to ensure radiation safety.

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