No reactor at Zaporizhzhia NPP will be restarted while war continues - IAEA chief
Photo: Rafael Grossi, Director General of the IAEA (Getty Images)
As long as there is a threat to the safety of the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, its reactors must remain in a state of "cold shutdown," according to a statement from IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.
"The situation at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) remains precarious. Regular explosions, drone attacks, gunfire; repeated interruptions of external power supply, among other challenges, increase the risk of a nuclear accident," Grossi stated.
He reminded that on August 11, a fire broke out inside one of the plant's cooling towers, and due to the damage, it will likely need to be demolished.
"The cooling towers currently are not required as part of the cooling mechanism while all ZNPP’s six reactor units remain in cold shutdown. In line with the Agency’s advice, it is understood that no reactor will be re-started as long as the conflict continues to jeopardize the nuclear safety and security of the plant," emphasized the IAEA Director General.
He added that continuing the agency's work at the ZNPP remains crucial to reducing the likelihood of a nuclear accident.
Fire at the Zaporizhzhia NPP
On August 11, a fire broke out at the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. It did not pose a risk of harmful substance leakage, and the plant continued to operate normally.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the fire was set by Russian occupiers.
Energoatom suspects that the fire may have been caused by the negligence of the Russians or deliberate arson.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated that the cooling tower at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP was severely damaged by the fire last month. He believes that the structure will likely need to be demolished.
