Damage to Ukrainian dam at nuclear power station reservoir

The International Atomic Energy Agency has announced today that the Nova Kakhovk dam on the Dnipro river in southeastern Ukraine has been severely damaged.

The damage to the dam has accordingly led to a significant reduction in the reservoir level that is used to supply water to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station, the largest in Europe. IAEA staff on site have been informed this is at about a 5cm/hour reduction, which will continue to be monitored.

This water is used for cooling the emergency diesel generators and to remove residual heat from the reactors and spent fuel ponds.

Absence of cooling water in the essential cooling water systems for an extended period of time would cause fuel melt and inoperability of the emergency diesel generators.

However, the IAEA say their current assessment is that there is no immediate risk to the safety of the plant.

The reservoir level was reported to be around 16.4m at 8am, the water can no longer be pumped if it drops below 12.7m.