As of: March 8, 2024, 4:57 p.m
By: Lisa Mahnke
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A reactivation of the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhia is under discussion.
Greenpeace warns of dire consequences – and criticizes the IAEA.
SOCHI - Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has begun discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin on nuclear safety at the Russian-occupied nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia.
But this is met with criticism from Greenpeace.
Environmentalists condemn this move as an “unprecedented escalation” in Ukraine.
Because the infrastructure would not be sufficient for safe operation, it said in a statement.
The nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia was taken over by Russia in March 2022 and has been close to the front line in the Ukraine war ever since.
The idea of connecting the power plant to the Russian energy grid was initially not pursued further.
Five of the nuclear reactors are in a cold shutdown state and another is in a hot shutdown state.
Despite everything, the situation is fragile because only two of the ten power lines for the cooling system are active - and these power lines have also failed repeatedly in the last few months.
Nuclear safety is therefore on shaky ground.
“Must make it clear that safe operation is impossible” – Greenpeace expected more backbone
But after about two years there are currently discussions again with which a possible reactivation is being explored.
In addition to IAEA director Grossi, Russia-appointed director Yuri Shchernishuk also told the
Guardian
in December last year : “The station is committed to operating at full capacity.”
According to the dpa
, Grossi had announced before the meeting
that he wanted to address security concerns for a possible reactivation, such as the precarious situation on the front line and the inadequate power supply.
He also previously warned of possible risks.
According to the Guardian
, Vladimir Putin did not reveal any specific plans during the conversation with Grossi
, but said it was important to ensure the "safety of nuclear energy and compliance with safety standards worldwide."
For Greenpeace nuclear expert Shaun Burnie, the mere educational efforts were not enough.
“Rosatom and the Russian government must hear clearly from the IAEA that no steps should be taken to restart,” Burnie said in a Greenpeace statement ahead of the meeting between Putin and Grossi.
“The IAEA must not play the role of a pretend regulator in overseeing a Russian nuclear time bomb, but must make it clear that safe operation is impossible,” the nuclear expert said, according to
The Guardian
.
“That has to change”: According to Greenpeace, the IAEA is violating its own principles
Since the occupation of the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhia, Greenpeace has repeatedly warned about the condition of the power plant, but has also criticized the IAEA representative's handling of the situation.
“The images show that the Russian occupiers are violating the principles of the IAEA,” the Burnie said in September last year.
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The five principles presented by Grossi himself before the UN Security Council include, among other things, a ban on attacks originating from or directed at a nuclear power plant and the ban on using it as a military base.
The external power supply must not be endangered either.
All of these principles have been violated in the past.
“But the IAEA Director General’s report from Zaporizhzhia is incomplete and misleading in this regard.
It appears that the IAEA is currently unable to fully report on these security risks.
“That has to change,” continued Burnie.
Greenpeace clearly opposes nuclear power reactivation in Ukraine
Burnie's opinion is clear: "All existing plans to operate one or more reactors in Zaporizhzhia must be abandoned," said the Greenpeace spokesman.
The only way to sufficiently cool the reactors and avoid a nuclear meltdown, according to the Greenpeace statement, is through extensive construction work that could create access to the remaining Dnipro river channels.
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is under Russian occupation.
© IMAGO/ITAR-TASS/Alexei Konovalov
“As the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam by Russian forces showed, anything is possible, including the deliberate destruction of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant by Russia,” said nuclear and radiation expert Jan Vande Putte of Greenpreace Belgium.
The Kakhovka Dam was destroyed in an explosion in the Ukraine War in June 2023.
Both sides blamed each other.
(lismah)