IAEA does not rule out the risk of an accident at the Zaporozhye NPP

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is waiting for its experts to visit the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant in Ukraine, which is in Russian hands and, given the situation with two applicants, eliminates the risk of an accident.

Its CEO, Rafael Grossi, notes in an interview with the French newspaper Le Monde that while “you can’t be alarmist”, you can’t trivialize “a situation that doesn’t exist”, referring to the largest nuclear complex in Europe, the target of cross accusations from Kyiv D Moscow around the complex.

“The installation works, but with difficulty, so under the current conditions, an accident scenario cannot be ruled out. Constant power outages, problems with spent fuel…,” he clarifies.

Grossi admits he is “dismayed” because although nuclear safety has made “tremendous” progress since the accident. Chernobyl in 1986 “in the midst of war, security is never absolute.”

Also that various possibilities for nuclear accidents were considered, but not as large a complex as the one in Zaporozhye You will find yourself in the midst of a conventional conflict, similar to the conflict between two world wars, with tanks, troop movements and trenches.

The Director General, who was received by the President of France this Thursday in Paris, Emmanuel Macronin order to move forward with the organization of the IAEA mission, which was accepted by the parties, insisted that the goal would be the safety of the installation, that is, “its normal operation and unhindered.”

He indicated that he did not have a mandate to mediate between Russia D Ukrainebut its role is reduced to a “technical” mission to prevent an accident.

Had the visit taken place, the experts would have started by examining the situation at the plant before repairing damaged transmission systems.

They will also inspect the spent fuel pools and resolve “the delicate issue of power supply needed to cool the reactors.”

recrimination

The Russian Defense Ministry on Friday accused Ukrainian forces of bombing the nuclear power plant. Zaporozhye cfrom large-caliber weapons twice the day before, on the day when the plant was disconnected from the Ukrainian power grid for the first time in its history.

“As a result of the shelling, four shells exploded near the oxygen-nitrogen depot and another near special unit No. 1,” military spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a daily combat report.

According to Konashenkov, the shelling was carried out from the position of Ukrainian forces west of the city of Marganets, Dnepropetrovsk region.

“As a result of a direct strike by Russian high-precision weapons on this position, an American-made M777 howitzer was eliminated,” he said.

Ukraine For his part, yesterday he accused “the actions of the Russian occupiers” of shutting down the plant, whose energy needs were covered in an emergency by a power line from a nearby thermal power plant.

The Ukrainian Atomic Energy Agency Energoatom said on Friday that all nuclear reactors Zaporozhyeonly six are still disconnected from the national power grid.

“The station’s own needs for electricity are currently provided by the repaired line of the energy system of the city of Ukraine”, he pointed out.

There are no “comments on the operation of equipment and security systems” of Europe’s largest plant, he added.

(As reported by EFE)

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