IAEA experts are closely monitoring the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) in connection with allegations of a sabotage threat, but during recent inspections no signs of mines were found there, Rafael Grossi, the agency’s director general, said Wednesday.
“I was in contact with experts from the permanent mission to the ZNPP today, just a few hours ago. We are aware of the allegations and statements from both sides. (…) We have not detected any signs of mines during recent inspections, but we remain extremely wary,” Grossi said at a briefing in Japan, commenting on reports of a sabotage threat at the ZNPP.
He added that “we cannot relax now,” and promised to report regularly on the situation at the plant.
According to Grossi, the IAEA has requested access to a number of other locations at the ZNPP. “IAEA experts have asked for additional access. This is needed to make sure there are no mines or explosives at the site,” the IAEA quoted the director general as saying.
“In particular, access is required to the roof over reactors 3 and 4, to the engine room and to some components of the nuclear power plant cooling system,” he added.
The IAEA experts have received information according to which there are plans to re-launch the fifth reactor at the Zaporizhia NPP, the agency said in a statement.
“Senior Ukrainian operating staff informed IAEA experts present at the ZNPP that preparations are under way to start unit 5 at reduced power to produce steam and heat for the needs of the plant,” the IAEA’s statement reads.
It is noted that it will take some time to complete all the preparations. Zaporizhia NPP is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, has six VVER-1000 power units.
At the moment, the plant does not generate electricity: on September 11, the last working reactor was stopped.
On September 1, the IAEA mission visited the NPP. After that, two agency specialists work at the station.
The Ukrainian Zaporizhia NPP was captured by Russian troops at the end of February.
NNEGC “Energoatom” refuted the information about a fire at the second power unit of the Zaporozhye NPP, circulated in Telegram channels about an hour ago.
“We officially inform you that this is not true. As of 15:40 on September 29, 2022, no fires and fires were recorded at the power units of the Zaporozhye NPP,” the company wrote on its Telegram channel on Thursday.
NNEGC Energoatom, in a comment to the Interfax-Ukraine agency, did not confirm the information that appeared in the Telegram channels about the fire at power unit No. 2 of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (ZNPP).
“We are preparing a refutation,” the company said.
As reported, a number of Telegram channels reported a few minutes ago about an emergency situation at the ZNPP – a fire at unit No. 2.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has launched negotiations on the creation of a nuclear safety zone at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant (NPP), head of the agency Rafael Grossi says.
“Kicked off IAEAGC week meeting with US Under Secretary for Arms Control Bonnie Jenkins. Urgent establishment of Nuclear Safety and Security Protection Zone at Zaporizhia NPP in focus. Work to keep Ukraine’s nuclear sites safe and secure remains priority and US support is highly appreciated,” he said on Twitter.
Earlier, the International Atomic Energy Agency published a report on the results of the mission to ZNPP. It said, in particular, about the need to “immediately take intermediate measures to avoid a nuclear incident that could occur due to hostilities.” “The issue can be resolved by immediately creating a safety zone,” the authors pointed out.
The IAEA expressed its readiness to immediately begin consultations on the urgent establishment of such a safety zone.
The work of the Zaporizhzhya NPP was completely stopped, on Sunday night the 6th power unit was disconnected from the power grid, Energoatom reports.
“Today, September 11, 2022, at 03:41 at night, power unit No. 6 of ZNPP was disconnected from the power grid. Preparations are underway for its cooling and transfer to a cold state,” the statement said.
Energoatom noted that for the past three days, the 6th power unit has been operating in the “island” mode, providing only for the ZNPP’s own needs at a critically low power level (from 114 to 140 MW), since all communication lines were damaged due to Russian shelling Zaporozhye NPP with the energy system of Ukraine.
The NAEC noted that on Saturday evening, after the resumption of operation of one of these communication lines, the power supply for the ZNPP’s own needs became possible from the energy system of Ukraine. Consequently, it was decided to turn off power unit No. 6 and transfer it to the safest state – a cold shutdown.
“In the event of repeated damage to the communication lines with the power system, the risk of which remains high, the ZNPP’s own needs will be powered by diesel generators, the service life of which is limited by the technological resource and the volume of diesel fuel,” the NAEC noted.
NNEGC Energoatom is taking all possible measures to organize the supply of additional batches of diesel fuel to the Zaporizhia NPP, and also calls for an end to Russian shelling of ZNPP communication lines with the power system and the creation of a demilitarized zone around it to prevent an emergency at the plant.
The press service stressed that after that, the communication lines can be repaired, to ensure the inclusion and safe operation of the station.
