Grossi: risks to the safety of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant remain without progress in the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine

Risks to the safety of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant remain due to the lack of progress in the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine, says Rafael Grossi, Director General of the IAEA.

The situation around the Zaporizhia NPP remains unstable due to ongoing hostilities and damage to power lines.

The IAEA will continue to work at the Zaporizhia NPP and promote measures to maintain its safety.

UN, October 2 - RIA Novosti. Risks to the safety of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant will remain until progress is achieved in the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine, says IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.

The situation around the Zaporizhia NPP remains unstable, primarily due to ongoing hostilities and damage to power lines. The plant repeatedly lost external power needed to operate cooling systems and other nuclear safety systems and was forced to switch to backup power sources.

“Unfortunately, I think that until a general ceasefire is achieved or progress is made in a peaceful settlement, we will not be able to be calm about the situation at the station,” Grossi said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

All six ZNPP power units have been shut down, but the station continues to require electricity to ensure the operation of safety systems and cooling of nuclear fuel. In the event of loss of external power, these functions are provided by backup diesel generators. The IAEA has repeatedly identified the instability of external power supply as one of the main risks to the nuclear safety of the plant.

The head of the IAEA emphasized that the agency will continue to work at the Zaporizhia NPP and promote the measures necessary to maintain its safety.

“We are confident that this helps, at least to a certain extent, to maintain stability (in its work - ed.) in such difficult conditions,” he added.