Credit, Getty Images
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- author, Dearbail Jordan
- To roll, BBC News
Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) found that this massive structure, built on the site of the 1986 nuclear disaster, had lost its “primary safety functions, including its containment capabilities”.
In February, Ukraine accused Russia of attacking the nuclear plant – an allegation the Russians deny.
The IAEA said the repairs were “essential” to “prevent further degradation” of the nuclear shelter.
However, environmental expert Jim Smith told the BBC there was “no reason to panic”.
Is the damage caused to the protective shield of Chernobyl a cause for concern?
Professor Jim Smith of the University of Portsmouth, UK, who has studied the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster, understands that the greatest danger associated with the site is the dispersion of radioactive dust.
But he added that “this risk is low” because the contaminated dust is contained in a thick concrete “sarcophagus” covered with a protective shield.
In 1986, an explosion at Chernobyl released radioactive materials into the air, triggering a public health emergency across Europe.
In response, the former Soviet Union built a concrete sarcophagus on top of the nuclear reactor.
The sarcophagus had a useful lifespan of only 30 years, creating the need to cover it with a protective structure.
The goal was to prevent leaks of radioactive materials for the next 100 years.
The IAEA said a team completed a security assessment of the site last week after it was “severely damaged” by the drone attack in February.
The attack caused a fire in the exterior cladding of the steel structure.
Inspectors said there was no permanent damage to the plant’s supporting structures or monitoring systems and that some repairs had already been made to the roof.
But IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi added: “Rapid and comprehensive restoration remains essential to prevent further degradation and ensure long-term nuclear security. »
Since early December, the UN nuclear watchdog has been assessing Ukraine’s energy infrastructure as the country continues to defend itself against Russia.
On Saturday night (06/12), Russia launched airstrikes against the city of Kremenchuk, a major industrial hub in central Ukraine.
In addition to assessing Chernobyl, the IAEA inspected electrical substations related to nuclear safety in Ukraine.
“They are absolutely essential for providing the electricity that all nuclear power plants need for reactor cooling and other safety systems,” Grossi explained.
“They are also needed to distribute the electricity they produce to homes and industries,” he concluded.
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