Safety Pillars from the IAEA: Why it is Impossible to Safely Launch ZNPP Now
9 September 14:29
None of the six reactors at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant can be safely launched under current conditions. This was stated by the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
“All six reactors are in a state of cold shutdown, and none of the reactors can be safely restarted under current conditions,”
– grossi emphasized in his speech to the IAEA Board of Governors.
According to him, six out of seven nuclear safety pillars are not working at the plant, making it impossible to start the reactors.
The critical situation is caused by several factors, according to Mr. Grossi. In particular, only one power line remains outside the plant site, which poses serious safety risks. In addition, the water level in the cooling pool has dropped to 13.4 meters, approaching the critical mark of 12.0 meters, below which the cooling systems fail.
The IAEA Director General noted that the measures to isolate the inlet channel provide only short-term relief, but a long-term solution is needed for the safe operation of the plant, including the construction of a pumping station.
“The ongoing military activity, including attacks very close to the ZNPP site, is deeply concerning and adds to the tension and risk,”
– mr. Grossi said.
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Other nuclear facilities
At the Chornobyl site, three of the seven security pillars were not met after a drone strike on a new confinement in February. Temporary repairs are planned for the fall, the IAEA chief said.
Despite the military conflict, Khmelnytsky, Rivne and South Ukrainian NPPs continue to operate, supplying electricity to the national grid.
Mr. Grossi emphasized that the constant degradation of the power grid, including key substations, increases the risks to the safe operation of the plants, which compromises the fourth pillar of the seven pillars of nuclear safety.
Seven Pillars of Nuclear Safety of the IAEA
The Seven Pillars of Nuclear Safety is a comprehensive system of principles developed by the International Atomic Energy Agency to ensure safe operation of nuclear facilities in wartime. These principles were formalized by the IAEA after the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a response to the unique challenges faced by nuclear facilities in active hostilities.
The seven pillars include:
- physical integrity of nuclear facilities;
- functioning of all safety and security systems;
- the functioning of on-site personnel and their ability to perform their duties without undue pressure;
- reliable external power supply from the national grid;
- uninterrupted logistics supply and transportation chains;
- effective on-site and off-site radiation monitoring systems;
- reliable communication systems with regulatory authorities and other organizations.
Violation of any of these pillars creates risks for nuclear safety, and simultaneous violation of several pillars, as in the case of Zaporizhzhia NPP, makes the situation critically dangerous and makes it impossible to operate nuclear reactors safely.
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