- Ukraine insists that the situation in Zaporizhia is "extremely dangerous" after the fire on Thursday.
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| The IAEA does not rule out an accident at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant There are interruptions, problems with the used fuel... |
The IAEA does not rule out an accident at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant: "There are interruptions, problems with the used fuel..."
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is waiting for its experts to visit the Ukrainian nuclear power plant in Zaporizhia, which is in Russian hands, and, given the situation with the two contenders, it does not rule out the risk of an accident.
Its general director, Rafael Grossi, points out in an interview with the French newspaper Le Monde that, although "one must not be alarmist", one cannot trivialize "a situation that is not", in reference to what is the largest nuclear complex in Europe, object of crossed accusations on the part of Kyiv and Moscow in the surroundings of the complex.
"The installation works, but with difficulties, so that in the current circumstances the scenario of an accident cannot be excluded. There are continuous interruptions of the electrical supply, problems with the used fuel...", he specifies.
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Security is never absolute
Grossi acknowledges that he is "disturbed" because although nuclear safety has advanced "enormously" since the Chornobyl accident in 1986, "in the midst of a war, safety is never absolute."
Also, that different possibilities of nuclear accidents had been considered, but not a large complex like the one in Zaporizhia was in the middle of a conventional conflict like that of the two world wars, with tanks, troop movements, and trenches.
The director general, who was received in Paris this Thursday by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, to advance in the organization of an IAEA mission that is accepted by the parties, insisted that the objective would be the security of the facility, that is to say, "its normal and unhindered operation".
Technical mission, not a mediator
He pointed out that he does not have any mandate as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine, but that his role is reduced to a "technical" mission to prevent an accident.
If the visit were to take place, the experts would begin with an examination of the situation of the plant, before repairing the transmission systems that have been damaged.
They would also inspect the pools where the used fuel is and address "the sensitive issue of electricity supply, which is essential for cooling the reactors."
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