The UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned this Sunday (6th) that a Russian military took over the technical management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, which goes against the basic principles for the safe operation of the nuclear power plant. installation. The management of the plant is now under the orders of the commander of the Russian forces that took over the site last week, assured the director general of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi.
Grossi said he was very concerned about the change, which, he said, goes against the essential pillars of nuclear safety, by limiting the ability of the facility’s technical staff to “make decisions free from undue pressure.”
The EAIA indicated that the Ukrainian nuclear regulatory authority has informed that any action, including those related to the technical functioning of the six reactors, requires the prior approval of the Russian commander, according to a statement issued to report on the status of the plant.
In addition, the director-general speaks of a second “serious development” when he explains that, since this Sunday, there have been problems communicating with the technical staff of Zaporizhzhia, as the installation’s telephone lines do not work, as well as there is no response by electronic messages and there is no frequent cell signal. According to the director-general, the situation violates another of the seven basic pillars of nuclear safety, which is to maintain communications between the nuclear regulator and the plant operator.
“The deteriorating situation of vital communications between the regulator and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is also a source of deep concern, especially during an armed conflict that could endanger the country’s nuclear facilities at any time,” Grossi said.
Grossi also stated that there are problems in establishing contact with the old Chernobyl power plant, where, in 1986, the most serious nuclear accident in history took place. The unit has been under the control of Russian troops since February 24. Since then, employees in Chernobyl, like those in Zaporizhzhia, have been working three shifts, with no possibility of adequate rest.
Furthermore, the AEIA indicated that it has lost contact with all institutions in the port city of Mariupol – which is under attack by Russian troops –, which use different sources of radioactive materials.
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