[New post] International Atomic Energy Agency very concerned at dangers at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear complex.
Christina Macpherson posted: " Atomic agency: Danger signs at 'occupied' nuclear site in Ukraine Rafael Grossi tells AP the Zaporizhzhia facility requires repairs and the current situation there is 'not sustainable'. Aljazeera, The International Atomic Energy Age"
Atomic agency: Danger signs at 'occupied' nuclear site in Ukraine
Rafael Grossi tells AP the Zaporizhzhia facility requires repairs and the current situation there is 'not sustainable'. Aljazeera,
The International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) director-general says the level of safety at Europe's largest nuclear plant, which is currently under Russian military occupation in Ukraine, is like a "red light blinking" as his organisation tries in vain to gain access to the site.
Rafael Grossi said that the IAEA needs access to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine so its inspectors can, among other things, reestablish the site's connections with the Vienna-based headquarters of the UN agency.
Ukraine's 15 nuclear reactors gives it one of the largest nuclear power capacities in the world, and Russia's invasion has essentially turned parts of country into a nuclear minefield.
Again and again since the invasion, nuclear experts have watched in alarm as Russian forces have come uncomfortably close to multiple nuclear plants in Ukraine.
Grossi said the Zaporizhzhia plant requires repairs.
"There are two units that are active, in active operation … others that are in repairs or in cool down. And there are some activities, technical activities and also inspection activities that need to be performed," Grossi said.
"So the situation as I have described it, and I would repeat it today, is not sustainable as it is," he said.
"So this is a pending issue. This is a red light blinking."............
The IAEA chief said he is continuing to press Russia's government for access to the Zaporizhzhia plant.........
"There cannot be any military action in or around a nuclear power plant," Grossi said, adding that he has appealed to Russia about this.
"This is unprecedented to have a war unfolding amidst one of the world's largest nuclear infrastructures, which, of course, makes for a number of fragile or weak points that could be, of course, exploited wittingly or unwittingly," he added.
"So this requires a lot of activity on our side and cooperation. Cooperation from the Russian side. Understanding from the Ukrainian side so that we can avoid an accident."..............
Russia's invasion of Ukraine, along with US and European support for Ukraine in the conflict, have increased tensions between Russia and the West, but it's "imperative for us to look for common denominators in spite of these difficulties", Grossi said.
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