Ukraine's 15 Nuclear Reactors Pose Unprecedented Risk in War Zone

As Russia Seizes Chernobyl Site, Ukraine's 15 Nuclear Reactors Pose Unprecedented Risk in War Zone

Russian military activity near Ukraine's nuclear sites have raised alarm, as triggering any of the volatile reactors around the country could cause nuclear catastrophe for the entire European continent. Russian troops have seized the site of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster and have reportedly taken staff hostage, raising fear that any disturbance could rerelease deadly radiation that has been sealed off for years. As Ukraine relies on nuclear power for 50% of its electricity, shutting down active nuclear reactors would alleviate the potential for nuclear catastrophe at the cost of leaving many deprived of electricity during the war. "This is the first time that we've ever seen a war zone in a location where there are operating nuclear power plants," says Linda Pentz Gunter, international specialist at Beyond Nuclear. "Any manner of situations could lead to a catastrophic meltdown."

https://youtu.be/20gVRaQdVmY


#Russia #Ukraine #nuclearpower #Chernobyl

Ukraine pushes for domestic uranium supply

A programme to make Ukraine self-sufficient in uranium by 2027 has been approved by the country's cabinet. Nuclear power is planned for significant expansion beyond the 54% of electricity it already provides in Ukraine.

Some 15 large reactors of Russian design supply Ukraine with about 54% of its electricity. In recent months the country's government has announced a new build programme in collaboration with the USA and the reactor vendor Westinghouse. The AP1000 reactor design is to be deployed at the Khmelnitsky nuclear power plant first, with four more units to follow at other existing nuclear power plants. Ukraine has also been discussing the deployment of NuScale's VOYGR small reactors and the licensing work that would be involved.

https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Artic...ium-supply

Expert Says Ukraine Has One of the Biggest Lithium Reserves In Europe

“We have one of the biggest lithium reserves in Europe, sitting in Donetsk and Kirovograd. Public research has been conducted on this metal deposit. Its concentrations are quite good,” Evtushenko said, adding that it has massive potential for future Ukrainian industry. “Perspectives are interesting enough because Ukraine is a neighbor of the large car manufacturers. Now they purchase batteries in the Far East, where lithium is delivered from Latin America.

https://uawire.org/news/expert-says-ukra...-in-europe

Ukraine pushes for domestic uranium supply

A programme to make Ukraine self-sufficient in uranium by 2027 has been approved by the country's cabinet. Nuclear power is planned for significant expansion beyond the 54% of electricity it already provides in Ukraine.

Some 15 large reactors of Russian design supply Ukraine with about 54% of its electricity. In recent months the country's government has announced a new build programme in collaboration with the USA and the reactor vendor Westinghouse. The AP1000 reactor design is to be deployed at the Khmelnitsky nuclear power plant first, with four more units to follow at other existing nuclear power plants. Ukraine has also been discussing the deployment of NuScale's VOYGR small reactors and the licensing work that would be involved.

https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Artic...ium-supply

Ukraine relies on nuclear power for some 50 percent of its energy needs, and that energy is supplied by 15 nuclear reactors at four plants, three of which are located well away from the fighting. All were built during Soviet times and ensuring a steady supply of fuel to them is essential to avoid catastrophe of another kind.

The major concern is that the four nuclear power plants are located in what is more and more coming to resemble a war zone.

A new kind of crisis

The circumstances are largely unprecedented.

“There haven’t been many conflicts in states with nuclear power facilities in the past, so we’re really entering unknown territory here,” said Jeffrey Mankoff, Deputy Director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Russia and Eurasia Program.

NATO has shown concern, sending a small team of civilian experts to Ukraine in April to advise the government on the safety of its nuclear infrastructure.

The fear driving this assistance is the long shadow of Chernobyl, which is located in Ukraine.

https://bellona.org/news/nuclear-issues/...ns-stumble

Published on September 15, 2014