A nuclear tragedy of the magnitude of Chernobyl cannot be possible anymore, as the current power plants are protected by concrete structures specially designed so as not to be affected, Teodor Chirica, nuclear energy expert and honorary president of the Romanian Atomic Forum (ROMATOM) told Agerpres on Thursday.

“Installations in nuclear reactors are protected by concrete protective tires, very strong reinforced structures, more than a meter thick, designed not to be affected by external events such as earthquakes, projectiles or fires. Even in extreme cases, if these systems could be cracked, up to the active area where the nuclear fuel is located, there are a series of internal structures lined with steel plates, as well as the metal structures that contain the nuclear fuel and where the nuclear fission reaction takes place. All of these protection systems, as well as the technological systems inside the nuclear reactor, are calculated to withstand earthquakes of extreme probability, which exceed the probability of occurring once every 10,000 years,” the specialist explained.

The Chernobyl plant did not have such complex protection systems.

“A Chernobyl-type accident is no longer possible due to the very high level of nuclear safety of nuclear power plants: major technological differences, the concept of deep defense, protection measures, the nuclear safety culture of personnel, the level of national control and regulation In extreme situations, possible radioactive material leaks cannot be ruled out, but in controllable quantities with reduced effects on the population and the environment. It is worth noting that Chernobyl remained a major accident at a nuclear power plant, where, in addition to some technological weaknesses, the human factor also contributed greatly, but this type of nuclear power plant was withdrawn from operation in the member states,” Chirica said.

He also said that there are national response plans for emergencies that include nuclear events outside Romania, coordinated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Ukraine’s largest nuclear power plant in Zaporozhye was hit during a night raid by Russian bombing.

Ukrainian response teams announced on Friday that they had extinguished a fire that broke out in a nuclear power plant building.