AHC: Prevent the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster

[TheRomanSlayer]

In 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear powerplant suffered a major explosion that had far reaching consequences today, with much of southern Belarus a radiated area that contaminated much of its arable lands and northern Ukraine is still under the influence of the reactor's fallout.

So how is it possible to stop the Chernobyl nuclear plant from exploding? While simple prevention may do the trick, how would a lack of a Chernobyl nuclear explosion affect world politics and the future of nuclear power in general?

[american2006]

Dec 25, 2020 2:09:34 GMT TheRomanSlayer said:

In 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear powerplant suffered a major explosion that had far reaching consequences today, with much of southern Belarus a radiated area that contaminated much of its arable lands and northern Ukraine is still under the influence of the reactor's fallout.

So how is it possible to stop the Chernobyl nuclear plant from exploding? While simple prevention may do the trick, how would a lack of a Chernobyl nuclear explosion affect world politics and the future of nuclear power in general?

From my understanding, get the cooling systems to work. As per affects, at minimum nothing at maximum an expanded lifespan of the USSR because the food shortage caused by the disaster never happens, meaning the riots and protests from it never happen.

[TheRomanSlayer]

I see. Although without the nuclear disaster, Belarus might remain a bit more agrarian. It was only IOTL that they were forced to move into the cities due to the radiation, and northern Ukraine is still a radiated mess. Without the disaster, you might also have the entire world pursue nuclear research a bit more aggressively.

[gillan1220]

What if the Chernobyl Disaster Never Happened?

[TheRomanSlayer]

Would we see more nuclear plants being built in this scenario, or would the search for alternative sources of energy be slowed down?

[gillan1220]

Jan 22, 2021 6:31:28 GMT TheRomanSlayer said:

Would we see more nuclear plants being built in this scenario, or would the search for alternative sources of energy be slowed down?

Probably the nuclear taboo won't be known until Tohoku in 2011.

[gral]

Jan 29, 2021 16:31:58 GMT gillan1220 said:

Jan 22, 2021 6:31:28 GMT TheRomanSlayer said:

Would we see more nuclear plants being built in this scenario, or would the search for alternative sources of energy be slowed down?

Probably the nuclear taboo won't be known until Tohoku in 2011.

Eh, I doubt it; we had had the Three Mile Island accident already. It would have been weaker without such an example as Chernobyl was... unless another big accident happens later on, spurred on by laxer safety standards due to a lack of a Chernobyl disaster.

[TheRomanSlayer]

I wonder if the Soviet nuclear scientists that were competent enough to detect the problem would have exposed the safety flaws of their reactor.

[stevep]

Jan 30, 2021 1:25:47 GMT TheRomanSlayer said:

I wonder if the Soviet nuclear scientists that were competent enough to detect the problem would have exposed the safety flaws of their reactor.

  Or if they did they would be listened to by the officials or simply told to keep quiet.

[TheRomanSlayer]

I am starting to think that the OTL Chernobyl disaster could have been an exercise in intentional negligence on the Soviets' part. This would mean Ukraine could also sue Russia for negligence relating to the accident, if it was possible.

[oscssw]

Jan 30, 2021 12:10:03 GMT stevep said:

Jan 30, 2021 1:25:47 GMT TheRomanSlayer said:

I wonder if the Soviet nuclear scientists that were competent enough to detect the problem would have exposed the safety flaws of their reactor.

  Or if they did they would be listened to by the officials or simply told to keep quiet.

From what I know about the Soviet system Steve, my money would be on the apparatchiks telling the "uchenyy" to shut up or else.  One of the many catastrophic flaws of the soviet system is no one in their right mind would be willing to tell the "Leaders" of a major problem in their bureau until it was impossible not to.   Then they would put more effort into blaming someone else than solving the problem.    

[stevep]

Jan 31, 2021 17:59:34 GMT oscssw said:

Jan 30, 2021 12:10:03 GMT stevep said:

  Or if they did they would be listened to by the officials or simply told to keep quiet.

From what I know about the Soviet system Steve, my money would be on the apparatchiks telling the "uchenyy" to shut up or else.  One of the many catastrophic flaws of the soviet system is no one in their right mind would be willing to tell the "Leaders" of a major problem in their bureau until it was impossible not to.   Then they would put more effort into blaming someone else than solving the problem.    

  Very true.  Its the problem in any system where the central leadership has too much power and no checks on their actions.

[TheRomanSlayer]

To make it worse, they could not be legally held liable for intentional negligence.

[stevep]

Feb 1, 2021 5:16:48 GMT TheRomanSlayer said:

To make it worse, they could not be legally held liable for intentional negligence.

  Do you mean legally IF the Soviet system actually allowed rule by law i.e. that there were exemptions from the law written in for them or simply that the rulers would never allow such dirty linen to be aired in public in a court case?

[TheRomanSlayer]

Possibly, yeah. Although Ukraine could technically sue Russia for such negligence on the grounds that as the successor to the Soviet Union, Russia would have inherited all the crap that the USSR had done.