Investigation into accident at Burshtyn TPP: arsenic in Dniester, downplaying scale of accident and blocking inspection

DTEK itself denies everything.

As revealed in a joint investigation by the Skhemy program and the Center for Countering Corruption public organization, a dangerous amount of arsenic could have entered the environment as a result of the accident at the Burshtyn TPP, owned by Rinat Akhmetov's DTEK.

In late November, a large-scale accident was reported at the Burshtyn TPP. DTEK then said the incident involved damage to a water collector and that there would be no harm to the environment.

Results of the investigation

Journalists worked at the scene and used a drone to film the aftermath of the accident. The footage shows the TPP territory, covering up to 10 hectares, flooded with dark liquid.

According to experts the journalists spoke with, the most likely scenario is a rupture of an ash and slag pipeline carrying hazardous substances.

In addition, a former TPP employee told the investigators that aerial images show a break in slag pipelines, not in a water collector.

Hazardous coal combustion waste, namely ash and slag, is transported under pressure through ash and slag pipelines, and with water it enters a special waste storage site at the station, the ash dump.

An independent chemical analysis commissioned by the investigators found arsenic levels in the liquid from the site exceeding the permissible limit.

Journalists recorded that TPP administration pumped this liquid into a reservoir connected to a tributary of the Dniester.

DTEK's response

In an official response to the Skhemy report, DTEK stated that there was no rupture of the ash and slag pipeline, and therefore the accident posed no threat to the environment.

They repeated the claim that a stormwater collector had ruptured. Their chemical laboratory found no excess of harmful substances in the reservoir.

The company also insists that in August the State Environmental Inspectorate inspected the power plant and found no excess of harmful emissions above permissible norms.