Topline
The International Atomic Energy Agency has urged the establishment of a nuclear safety and security protection zone around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine in a report published Tuesday, after a high-profile visit by United Nations inspectors to the plant.
Rafael Mariano Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, speaks to press … [+]
Key Facts
The IAEA is still “gravely concerned” about the situation at Zaporizhzhia, according to the 50-page report, which details how the team of inspectors observed shelling that poses “a constant threat to nuclear safety and security” and damage to the plant’s facilities caused by nearby fighting.
A nuclear safety and security protection zone around Zaporizhzhia to stop shelling is urgent, the IAEA said, adding it is ready to immediately begin consultations to establish the zone.
The IAEA said all seven safety pillars the nuclear watchdog uses as a framework—including the facilities’ physical integrity, safety systems, off-site power supplies, reliable regulator communications and radiation monitoring—have been compromised by shelling.
The report also highlighted the “constant high stress and pressure” faced by Ukrainian staff who are operating the plant under Russian military occupation, a situation the IAEA warned could “lead to increased human error with implications for nuclear safety.”
Crucial Quote
“While the ongoing shelling has not yet triggered a nuclear emergency, it continues to represent a constant threat to nuclear safety and security with potential impact on critical safety functions that may lead to radiological consequences with great safety significance,” the authors of the report wrote.
What To Watch For
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi will address the United Nations Security Council Tuesday and brief them on the team’s findings in Ukraine.
Key Background
Russian troops have occupied Zaporizhzhia for months, the first time a military conflict has occurred near a large nuclear power program facility, the IAEA said in the report. Officials have warned that nearby fighting could trigger a nuclear disaster.
Further Reading
Nuclear Fears Grow: Europe’s Largest Nuclear Plant In Ukraine Disconnects From Grid (Forbes)
Ukraine Runs Nuclear Disaster Drills In Zaporizhzhia As Tensions Rise At Europe’s Largest Plant (Forbes)
Ukraine Accuses Russia Of ‘Nuclear Terror’ Amid Fighting Near Europe’s Largest Nuclear Plant (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2022/09/06/iaea-calls-for-protection-zone-around-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-plant-amid-fighting-in-ukraine/