Updates on the Situation in Ukraine

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Resolution in Support of Nuclear Safety and Security

Ukraine Press Briefing

On Wednesday March 9th, the Nuclear Energy Institute hosted a press briefing at CERAWeek on nuclear energy and the war in Ukraine. The panel provided context and gave an update on the current state of play in Ukraine, covering topics ranging from radiation safety to energy security. The panel featured NEI President and CEO Maria Korsnick, NEI Senior Vice President of Policy Development and Public Affairs John Kotek, and Dr. Kathryn Higley, Professor in the School of Nuclear Science and Engineering at Oregon State University’s College of Engineering.

Highlights:

• Zaporizhzhia: “We understand the Ukrainians are continuing to operate all these power plants. I think in the case of the Zaporizhzhia plant, overtop of the Ukrainian operators, there is a military structure, but it continues to operate safely. And in that case, we have verification that operators are changing shifts. Indication would be that it is operating well under these stressful times,” said Maria Korsnick
• Chernobyl: “One thing that’s important to recognize in the situation in Chernobyl is that the last reactor was shut down in the year 2000, so the spent fuel that is inside there has had twenty plus years to cool…In the near term, the fuel is sufficiently cooled,” said John Kotek.
• Energy Security: “I think there is this recognition that if nuclear were to somehow be taken off the table or support for it would drop, that’s going to further undermine energy security in Europe, here in the U.S., and beyond, and really plays into the hands of those who want to use energy as a weapon,” said Kotek.
• Grid Disruption: “All plants are designed in case there is a grid disruption to continue to operate safely. And so there is other on-site equipment that can necessarily power any additional equipment that they need to continue to run, even if the offsite grid is not available,” said Korsnick. 
• Fuel Supply: “As you look ahead for the increase in nuclear power as we see it will play not only here in the U.S. but also across the globe, it’s important that we invest in the front end of the fuel cycle,” said Korsnick.
• Radiation Safety: “The EU created a robust data monitoring and sharing network to be able to address radioactive releases from any facilities across Europe, so this integrated, rapid sharing of information can be provided to decisionmakers quite quickly. The takeaway is no, people should not be fearful, they should be mindful,” said Dr. Kathryn Higley.
• Decarbonization: “I think the nuclear value proposition is basic and fundamental. It’s reliable, it’s carbon-free, it’s 20 percent of the U.S. supply of electricity. What’s important in front of us is not just that we have to decarbonize the electric sector, we have to decarbonize the entire economy,” said Korsnick.

Contact: Please reach out to Mary Love at [email protected] for any questions regarding the briefing.

NEI Statement on Events in Ukraine

March, 2022, Washington, D.C.—The following statement can be attributed to Maria Korsnick, president and chief executive officer of the Nuclear Energy Institute:

“We are following the tragic events taking place in Ukraine following the Russian invasion, and our hearts are with the Ukrainian people. Overnight, Russian forces attacked the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. NEI strongly condemns any military attacks on or near nuclear power plants and activities that prevent plant operations. We urgently call for the cessation of violence at nuclear facilities. We commend the courage and resilience of the men and women who continue to safely operate the Ukrainian nuclear fleet. 

“NEI supports the creation of safe zones surrounding all nuclear power plants in Ukraine and endorses IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi’s proposal to negotiate a framework with the Ukrainians and Russians to uphold the principles of nuclear safety and protection of nuclear facilities.

“We are in close communication with our international partners and the IAEA. The IAEA is in daily contact with the Ukrainian regulator and will update the public as more information becomes available. The current update from IAEA of the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant includes:

• Ukraine informed the IAEA that Russian forces had taken control of the site of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, but that the nuclear power plant continued to be operated by its regular staff and there had been no release of radioactive material.
• Ukraine informed the IAEA that a projectile overnight had hit a training building in the vicinity of one of the plant’s reactor units, causing a localized fire that was extinguished.
• The safety systems of the plant’s six reactors have not been affected and there has been no release of radioactive material.
• Radiation monitoring systems at the site are fully functional.
• Of the plant’s reactor units, Unit 1 is shut down for maintenance, Units 2 and 3 have undergone a controlled shut down, Unit 4 is operating at 60 percent power and Units 5 and 6 are being held “in reserve” in low power mode.

Nuclear Power in Ukraine Fact Sheet

Safety of U.S. Nuclear Reactors

Safety is in the DNA of every U.S. nuclear energy plant. That’s one of the benefits of nuclear energy: U.S. plants are among the safest and most secure industrial facilities in the country. The safety of our employees and the communities in which we live and work is our top priority.

Nuclear power plants maintain the highest standard for operational safety, security, cybersecurity and emergency preparedness. The industry’s comprehensive safety procedures and stringent federal regulations keep our plants and neighboring communities safe.

The Need for Nuclear Energy

Nuclear energy is a critical part of the energy transition, essential to meeting climate goals and increasing energy independence. New nuclear designs have unique safety features that build on decades of learnings, and their role in decarbonization is globally acknowledged.

Countries like Canada, the UK, Poland and Romania are seeing nuclear as a solution and are increasingly committed to building new reactors. Other nations specifically desire to collaborate with the United States due to our superior technology, outstanding operational and safety performance, and reliability as a partner. 

The U.S. is a key partner to other countries in meeting the increasing demand for reliable, carbon-free generation, and by tapping into American expertise, countries are on a pathway to enter partnerships that adhere to the highest international standards and nuclear safety practices.

Press Contacts

NEI Media Team:
[email protected] 

IAEA Contact:
[email protected]