The boss of the UN nuclear agency declared on Wednesday that the situation at the Ukrainian nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia “remains dangerous” following a Russian missile attack this month that disconnected the plant from the power grid.
Europe’s largest nuclear power plant needs a reliable power supply to operate the pumps that circulate the water that cools the reactors and the pools that contain the nuclear fuel.
Since the Russian attack on March 9, the plant has depended on a only standby power line that remains “disconnected and under repair“, according to Rafael Grossidirector of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
“Nuclear security in the ZNPP remains precarious,” Grossi said in a statement on Wednesday.
The lack of access from the control panel to the network and necessary repair work on your last emergency power line could cause a total loss of powermaking it dependent on diesel generators for the seventh time since Russia captured it a year ago, Grossi said.
“I ask once again for the commitment of all parties to ensure nuclear safety and plant protection.
had been activated emergency diesel generators to power the plant’s safety systems, according to the Ukrainian nuclear energy agency Energoatom, which has warned of the risk of an accident.
Without the electricity produced by these generators, overheating of the reactor fuel could cause a nuclear accidentas in the Japanese Fukushima in 2011.
The plant was left isolated from the Ukrainian power grid for 11 hours after the Russian attack. Both parties have accused each other of bombing the vicinity of the plant since its occupation by Moscow troops at the beginning of the war.
The bombardment occurred as part of a new wave of attacks Russian attacks throughout Ukraine, causing at least nine deaths and power outages throughout the country.
The Ukrainian President, Volodimir Zelenskystated that he had discussed the situation at the plant with the Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishidawho was visiting the country.
“We discussed how to find a most effective mechanism for the vacation of our nuclear power plant,” Zelensky told reporters on Tuesday.
“Since the format in which we live, with all due respect and gratitude for what Mr. Grossi is doing to resolve this situation, does not help the Zaporizhzhia plant, no international institution is capable of resolving this issue.”
For his part, in a recent interview with InfobaeGrossi referred to the possibility of creating an exclusion area around Zaporizhzhya.
“We are trying to prevent that facility from becoming a military objective because a nuclear accident will not spare consequences for both sides and for Europe.“, he pointed
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Source-www.infobae.com