Director-General of IAEA discussed factors that could impact the safety of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant
IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi (photo: Getty Images)
The Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, during the thirteenth rotation of the agency's mission, discussed the issue that could impact the functioning of the safety systems of the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, according to the IAEA.
The agency emphasized that the International Atomic Energy Agency will continue to closely monitor maintenance activities at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant as it remains a source of concern.
"The reduced staff at the plant and limited availability of necessary spare parts could potentially affect the safety systems. It is important that all necessary technical maintenance is carried out," Grossi stated.
He added that IAEA experts are continuing to gather information regarding the status and condition of personnel, as well as the training and licensing of workers at the station.
The situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP)
ZNPP has been occupied by Russian forces since the beginning of Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Russians have not only violated the operational regime of the station but also used its facilities for storing equipment and personnel. Throughout the period of occupation, the station has been disconnected from the Ukrainian power grid multiple times.
Recently, due to the criminal actions of Russian occupiers at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, there was an incident involving a water leak from the first circuit to the second circuit of the fourth power unit. There was no radiological release into the environment.
Previously, the Minister of Energy, Herman Halushchenko, stated that Russia could create conditions that might lead to a nuclear incident after the de-occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant by Ukrainian defenders.
In July, experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) discovered anti-personnel mines on the outskirts of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant site.
