There are three other plants there operating — same design. Do keep in mind that although the reactors are typically of a bad Russian design, the disaster was because bureaucrats who had no business being in charge of STEM issues demanded that an unsafe test go ahead — and they blew the plant apart. Just like TMIsland, where cowboys from the US Navy decided to violate manufacturer’s warnings — “Cause THEY are in charge here, dammit (full speed ahead)”.
The other three Chernobyl reactors were shutdown years ago. There are 8 operating RBMK reactors currently; all are in Russia.
All of the plants at the Chernobyl site have been shut down for more than 20 years. This must be in relation to spent fuel.
Nuclear power is the most insane thing human kind has ever done. You can’t just turn it off and walk away.
The cowboys never had the benefit of training that’s standard now. After TMI nuclear power plants were required to have simulators with control rooms that were identical to the actual control room.
That means an instructor can run an exercise you wouldn’t do on an actual operating plant.
The cowboys had something on their hands they weren’t trained for.