by Andrea Nicastro
Speak Orlov, mayor of Enerhodar, has been living in Zaporizhia for months
From our correspondent in Zaporizhia
Dmitri Orlov is one of the many Ukrainian mayors who have fled Russian-held territories. He’s been living in Zaporizhia for months, but every day he dives into his cell phone and it’s like returning to his office in Enerhodar City Hall, a stone’s throw from Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. Now the relationship with its citizens mostly takes place on social networks, through secret chats. It receives and gives information. He is one of the few who knows the pulse of what is happening at the Enerhodar nuclear power plant, even before the technicians at the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Orlov, the plant’s reactors haven’t produced electricity since September, are you sure?
“No”.
Aren’t they turned off?
“Not producing energy does not mean stopping uranium fission. Four reactors are cold shutdown, two others are still producing steam. They must be continuously cooled, otherwise the core will overheat and risk another Chernobyl. It will take at least 5 years to do without the cooling pumps ».
Is this a problem?
“Yes, if the Russians bomb the power lines that drive the pumps. Last week an electrical substation was hit and the facility was blacked out. 20 diesel generators have been activated, but I don’t know if this will continue. Fuel is only available for 15 days ».
It will fill up again.
“Sure, but do we understand what we’re saying? That we rely on the operation of diesel generators, which may remain at minus 15 degrees in winter, the petrol runs out, fails. Turning off electricity in Enerhodar means playing with a nuclear catastrophe».
There will also be specialized technicians.
“That’s the point, there’s little more. Before the invasion there were 11,000, 5,000 remained. They take grueling shifts under the constant threat of Russian weapons. And it’s not like everyone is the same. Special courses are required to check certain equipment. For example, if a head office had 8 employees, there are three left who have to cover the 24 hours. What if someone has a cold? If he decides to flee? ».
Moscow will send its technicians, after all the Russian plants are the same.
“We haven’t seen any yet. I don’t think they can find any. Who wants to work in a city without water, electricity and gas with the risk of nuclear fusion? ».
Is that why Moscow is trying to hire Ukrainian technicians at its Rusatom?
“He’s been trying for months. can i bet At most 5% of the workforce will agree to move from Enerhoatom to Rusatom ».
Rumor has it that the facility has been undermined.
“That would strike me as strange. The reactors are built to withstand the impact of an airplane. TNT would tickle the concrete box. Instead, I affirm that the scope of the facility is being undermined. Wild animals die there regularly.”
According to rumors, the Russians are building something mysterious: “I understand a shed near the spent fuel storage facility, depleted uranium rods. No Ukrainian is allowed to approach”.
It would be the perfect material for a dirty bomb, mixing traditional explosives and radioactive material.
“It is so. But it could also be anything else. Indeed, we hope it is something else ».
November 6, 2022 (Change November 6, 2022 | 22:07)
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