IAEA explains why restart of Zaporizhzhya NPP is not possible at present
30 May 2025 21:39
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says that the current conditions do not allow the restart of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant due to the lack of safety guarantees. The agency’s spokesman Fredrik Dahl said this in a comment to Ukrinform , "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
According to him, the IAEA is aware of information about Russia’s construction of a new power line to the plant, but has no additional data and is currently refraining from commenting.
Regarding the possible restart of the Russian-seized ZNPP, Dahl recalled the report of IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, released on February 27. It clearly states that none of the reactors should be restarted as long as the situation at the plant remains dangerous due to the hostilities.
As of today, all six power units are in cold shutdown mode. The plant itself has informed the IAEA that it has no plans to transfer any of the reactors to hot shutdown. According to Dahl, the agency’s position has not changed since the report was released.
“Any resumption of ZNPP operation is possible only if large-scale preparations are made and full nuclear safety and personnel protection is ensured,” the spokesman emphasized.
The occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) is one of the most dangerous episodes of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, which has been going on since March 2022.
Date of occupation: on March 4, 2022, Russian troops seized the ZNPP in the city of Enerhodar, Zaporizhzhia region.
Importance of the plant: ZNPP is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, with six power units with a total capacity of 6 GW. Before the war, it provided up to 20% of Ukraine’s electricity.
As a result of the fighting, a fire broke out at the plant’s training center, causing international concern about the risk of a nuclear accident.
ZNPP came under Russian control, but Ukrainian workers remained there, forced to work under pressure and threats.
The IAEA explained why the restart of Zaporizhzhia NPP is currently impossible
- the presence of Russian military and equipment on the territory of the ZNPP;
- shelling around the plant (both sides blame each other);
- violation of the principle of independent work of operators;
- loss of external power supply, which threatens to shut down cooling systems.
As of 2023-2025, all six ZNPP reactors are in a state of cold shutdown, meaning they are not generating electricity.
The IAEA considers it impossible to restart the reactors in the current conditions due to the lack of safe conditions.
Personnel situation:
Ukrainian personnel continue to work at the plant under pressure from the occupiers.
There have been reports of abductions, torture and intimidation of workers who refused to cooperate with Rosatom (the Russian state-owned nuclear energy company).
International response:
The IAEA has consistently called for the establishment of a security zone around ZNPP.
The agency maintains a permanent mission at the plant with several experts on site.
The UN, the EU, the US and other countries demand the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of ZNPP.
Consequences:
Ukraine has lost an important source of electricity.
The increased risk of a nuclear incident has become another lever of Russian pressure on the West and Ukraine.
This situation is an unprecedented case of military occupation of a nuclear facility in history.
