Category: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Auto Added by WPeMatico

Posted on

Update 241 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

The occurrence of intense fires near Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) continues to add to the growing challenges facing Europe’s largest nuclear power plant (NPP), IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today.

On several occasions over the past week, the IAEA Support and Assistance Mission to Zaporizhzhya (ISAMZ) observed several fires at various distances from the ZNPP and nearby villages. Over the weekend, the IAEA experts observed smoke coming from an area to the north of the ZNPP near the ZTPP inlet channel. The plant confirmed that the fire was underneath the overhead cables of the Dniprovska 750 kilovolt (kV) line and the Ferosplavna 1 330 kV back-up power line – the last two remaining external power lines for the ZNPP.

As the summer heat continues, such fires along the pathways of the two remaining lines place the ZNPP at risk of loss of external power. While there was no disconnection of either line on this occasion, the situation highlighted the fragility of off-site power at the ZNPP.

“The off-site power supply to the ZNPP remains vulnerable, and any threat to the operability of the last two power lines is extremely concerning,” said Director General Grossi. “Despite all reactors remaining in a cold shutdown state, the reliability of off-site power is still a major risk to nuclear safety and security at the ZNPP and action must be taken to protect these remaining lines.”

This most recent event follows fires that occurred over the past few months. In early July the IAEA experts observed thick smoke and heard explosions coming from near the plant’s 750 kilovolt (kV) switchyard which had allegedly been caused by drones hitting an adjacent forest, starting fires in windy conditions. Previously in late May, the IAEA team also reported a wildfire south of the same switchyard. During a walkdown to the 750 kV switchyard last week, the IAEA experts observed burned bushes and trees in the area outside the switchyard’s perimeter and reported that there was no other impact from these fires.

This week, a new rotation of experts crossed the frontline to replace colleagues who have been stationed there for the past several weeks. This marks the 22nd IAEA team at the site since Director General Grossi established the mission on 1 September 2022. The IAEA teams continue to hear explosions at various distances from the site.

On Sunday, staff at the ZTPP were allegedly unable to go outside to start the pump that transfers water from the ZTPP inlet channel to the ZTPP discharge channel for some time due to the risk of shelling. The transfer is important as it then provides a supply of water to the sprinkler ponds and other areas. ISAMZ was informed that the pump was later turned back on and there was no impact to nuclear safety at the ZNPP.

On Wednesday, it was confirmed that all four diesel steam generators commissioned in January 2024 to provide the steam required by the ZNPP to process liquid radioactive waste have been put into operation. The ZNPP reported that approximately 1000 cubic metres of accumulated radioactive waste water will be processed over the next 10 to 12 days.

The IAEA experts also continue to monitor crucial maintenance activities across the site. On Friday, the safety train of unit 1 and its emergency diesel generator were placed back into standby mode following the completion of planned maintenance. Maintenance work continues on the safety systems of unit 6, and also on the main transformer of unit 3. Additionally, one of the breakers for the automatic transformer, which connects the ZNPP 750 kV switchyard to the ZTPP 330 kV switchyard, was placed under maintenance.

Last week, the IAEA experts assessed the status of several of the site’s 20 emergency diesel generators (EDGs), which serve as the last line of defence in the event of a loss of off-site power at the ZNPP. The IAEA team observed that the EDG for a safety train in unit 5 was started safely during scheduled testing. During a visit to the offsite diesel fuel storage last week, the team was informed by the ZNPP that the reduced storage of diesel fuel is due to upcoming planned maintenance of the storage tanks.

During their regular walkdowns to monitor nuclear safety and security, the IAEA team visited the Dry Spent Fuel Storage Facility and the offsite ZNPP Central Warehouse. They also met with representatives of the ZNPP safety analysis service, who informed them that the focus of the group’s work is on decay heat calculation analysis, given that all reactors are in cold shutdown.

Elsewhere in Ukraine, the IAEA experts present at the Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine NPPs and the Chornobyl site reported continued air raid alarms due to ongoing military activity in the regions on several days over the past week. On Friday, the IAEA experts at the Chornobyl NPP successfully rotated with the new team.

The teams at the Khmelnytskyy and Rivne NPPs reported that the operation of these plants continued to be affected by the impacts of the armed conflict on the electrical infrastructure of Ukraine. The IAEA teams were informed that the power levels of some reactor units were temporarily lowered due to grid limitations.

“The vulnerability of the electricity infrastructure across the country remains very concerning. It is essential that the electricity network across all of Ukraine remains stable to help maintain nuclear safety at all nuclear power plants,” Director General Grossi said.

Separately this week, as part of the IAEA’s efforts to support Ukraine in maintaining nuclear safety and security during the armed conflict, the Agency arranged its 57th delivery of nuclear safety and security related equipment. The delivery consisted of IT equipment for the radiation monitoring network and analytical laboratories of hydrometeorological organizations of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. The delivery was supported with funding from Sweden.

Posted on

Tritium Level in Eighth Batch of ALPS Treated Water Far Below Japan’s Operational Limit, IAEA Confirms

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

The tritium concentration in the eighth batch of diluted ALPS treated water, which the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) began discharging today, is far below Japan’s operational limit, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts have confirmed.

IAEA experts stationed at the Agency’s office at the site of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) sampled the treated water and conducted an independent on-site analysis. The IAEA confirmed that the tritium concentration in the diluted water is far below the operational limit of 1500 becquerels per litre and is in line with international safety standards.

Japan plans to continue releasing the ALPS-treated water from FDNPS over the next decades in a series of batches, following the start of the discharge in August last year. The IAEA has earlier confirmed that the tritium concentrations in the previous seven batches, totalling approximately 54 700 cubic meters of water, were also far below operational limits.

In a comprehensive report issued on 4 July 2023, the IAEA’s safety review found that Japan’s plan for handling the treated water was consistent with international safety standards and that the release as planned would have a negligible radiological impact to people and the environment.

Last month, the IAEA Task Force established to review the safety of the water discharge plan said in a new report that the discharge has continued to comply with international safety standards.

All reports on sampling, independent analysis, data evaluation, as well as timeline, are available on the IAEA website.

Posted on

Call for Synopses: International Conference on Stakeholder Engagement for Nuclear Power Programmes

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Interested contributors have until 2 December 2024 to submit synopses for the International Conference on Stakeholder Engagement for Nuclear Power Programmes, to be held from 26 to 30 May 2025 at IAEA headquarters in Vienna, Austria.

There is a new global consensus, demonstrated at last year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), that the deployment of nuclear power must be accelerated to achieve global decarbonization, energy security and sustainable development. But for a nuclear power programme to succeed, engaging with stakeholders throughout the entire nuclear fuel cycle, up to and including the disposal of radioactive waste, is essential. Understanding and addressing the opinions and concerns raised by stakeholders, including environmental groups, government officials and the public, is key at both the outset and over the duration of any programme.

“Effective stakeholder engagement in the nuclear energy sector is not just about sharing information. It means building trust through transparency, partnerships, and a shared vision for a safe and sustainable energy landscape,” said Andrea Borio di Tigliole, Programme Coordinator for the IAEA’s Department of Nuclear Energy and Scientific Secretary of the conference. “Inclusivity and dialogue among diverse stakeholders, from industry leaders and regulators to local communities and environmentalists, enhance decision making and promote safety as well as environmental and ethical responsibility in advancing nuclear energy for the benefit of current and future generations.”

The conference will provide a platform for exchanging best practices, experiences and lessons learned on how to engage with stakeholders in nuclear power programmes. It will enhance global understanding of the diverse perspectives, concerns and interests of stakeholders involved in nuclear power programmes at various levels and facilitate the sharing of methods and approaches to address stakeholders’ views and incorporate them into the decision making process.

The conference will bring together a wide range of participants including policymakers, regulators, communication experts, technical support organizations, waste management organizations, community representatives, industry leaders, academic researchers, NGOs, and international organizations.

Contributors interested in submitting a synopsis for the conference should choose a topic in one of the following areas:

  • Development and Implementation of Stakeholder Engagement Strategies
  • Managing the Changing Landscapes
  • Crisis Communication and Emergency Preparedness
  • Outreach, Media Relations and Messaging

Guidelines and details for the submission of abstracts are available here. Those wishing to contribute should submit a synopsis through the IAEA web-based submission system (IAEA-INDICO).

Authors will be informed by 31 January 2025 as to whether their submission has been accepted, either orally or as a poster, for presentation at the conference.

All persons wishing to participate in the event must be designated by an IAEA Member State or should be a member of an organization that has been invited to attend. No registration fee is charged to participants.

More information on registration and participation is available here.

Posted on

Big Data and Breastfeeding: Bridging the Evidence Gap for Better Health Outcomes

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Data from IAEA Human Milk Intake Database.

“The evidence published so far only comes from a few countries. In order to make firmer conclusions that could aid policy and practice, we need more data,” said Victor Ochieng Owino, a nutrition specialist at the IAEA. “The available evidence is mainly from the Global South, so going forward, it would be important to see data from the Global North as well.”

The IAEA helps countries use a non-radioactive or stable isotope technique to measure breast milk intake and determine if the infant is being exclusively breastfed. This noninvasive technique (DTM) is more accurate for measuring exclusivity of breastfeeding than the most commonly used approach of self-reporting by mothers on what kind of foods and liquids they feed their children. The DTM technique traces the flow of deuterium, a naturally occurring stable isotope of hydrogen as it is transferred via breast milk from the mother to her infant during breastfeeding.  The IAEA encourages countries to use this technique to monitor progress towards achieving exclusive breastfeeding targets. However, not many high-income countries have used this method to date to measure breast milk intake and exclusivity of breastfeeding.

Read more: What are Isotopes? | IAEA

“We compiled the Database on Human Milk with the aim of creating a distinctive and expanding global repository of DTM data. Typically, individual studies of breast milk intake are hard to generalize due to their small sample sizes. Our goals are to bring together these studies in one place to facilitate innovative data analyses that enhances our understanding of breastfeeding behaviour and its determinants, allowing the design of more effective interventions that promote breastfeeding,” said Cornelia Loechl, Head of the Nutritional and Health-Related Environmental Studies Section at the IAEA.

Data from the DTM technique is already informing public health policies in countries around the world. In a recent study, the DTM technique was used to determine how promotional activities impact exclusive breastfeeding. A collaborative study in Mauritania by its Ministry of Health, the IAEA and UNICEF found that awareness-raising campaigns almost doubled the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in intervention areas compared to those areas yet to benefit from such promotional efforts.  

A study carried out in South Africa, where exclusive breastfeeding rates were historically very low, found that mentoring and counseling programmes significantly improved exclusive breastfeeding rates, as assessed using the DTM technique.

This nuclear method has also facilitated breakthrough studies on the link between food security and breast milk output. An IAEA-supported research project in Western Kenya found that food insecurity is associated with lower breast milk intake, potentially resulting from a lack of nutrient intake by the mother. Prior to this study, the effects of food insecurity on breastfeeding had not been assessed with an objective measurement of exclusive breastfeeding or the amount of breast milk consumed.

The IAEA’s human milk intake database was launched in 2022, and is currently compiling information from studies around the world that used the DTM technique previously in diverse contexts. Although it is still in development, this database will enable researchers to explore relationships between breastfeeding practices and related driving factors, for example socio-economic status across the globe.

For example, a first data analysis was recently conducted using the DTM database to find links between maternal education  and infant breast milk intake. It was inferred from the study that there was not a significant difference in breast milk intake based on maternal education level. While this analysis did not find a conclusive link between breastfeeding and maternal education, comparisons by country Human Development Index (HDI) showed a trend towards higher breast milk intake in settings with lower HDI, further re-enforcing the need for more data to objectively evaluate breastfeeding practices in higher income settings. More data is needed on a global scale from various contexts to provide more conclusive results. As a practical step towards protecting the survival and health of babies and women, breastfeeding is a central part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and is linked to many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Breastfeeding plays an important role in preventing malnutrition and protecting infants against infection, reducing mortality. Children who are breastfed may also be less likely to become overweight or obese, supporting nutrition goals. Additionally, women who breastfeed have a lower risk of developing cancer and type II diabetes, enhancing maternal health. Breastfeeding supports gender equality by addressing workplace rights and birth spacing issues.

Obtaining more data is essential, from both high- and low-income countries, to close the evidence gap and inform action for improved breastfeeding and health for future generations.

Posted on

IAEA Completes International Physical Protection Advisory Service Mission in Japan

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

The IPPAS team visit the Mihama Nuclear Power Station in Fukui prefecture in Japan. (Mihama Nuclear Power Station)

An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts has concluded a two-week International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) mission in Japan. The mission, conducted at the request of the Government of Japan, took place from 22 July to 2 August 2024.

Hosted by the Nuclear Regulation Authority of Japan (NRA), the ten-person mission team reviewed Japan’s nuclear security regime for nuclear material and nuclear facilities, security of radioactive material, associated facilities, and activities, as well as computer security. As part of the review, the IPPAS team visited the Mihama Nuclear Power Station in Fukui prefecture, operated by the Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO).

This mission was the third IPPAS mission to Japan, following a previous mission in 2015 and its follow-up mission in 2018. During the 2018 mission, the team visited the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power station (KKNPS) in Niigata Prefecture. The actions taken since that 2018 mission with regard to physical protection measures at the KKNPS were part of the latest mission agenda.

Japan acceded the 2005 Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) in 2014. This Amendment significantly enhances the original CPPNM by broadening its scope and establishing obligations for Parties to ensure the physical protection of all nuclear facilities and nuclear material used for peaceful purposes, whether in domestic use, storage, or transport.

The IPPAS team, led by Joseph Sandoval of Sandia National Laboratories in the United States, included experts from Canada, Belgium, Hungary, Finland, Spain, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and the USA, as well as one IAEA staff member. The team held discussions with officials from the NRA, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), the National Police Agency (NPA), the Japan Coast Guard (JCG), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA), KEPCO and TEPCO.

At the end of the mission, the team commended Japan for its robust nuclear security regime. They provided recommendations and suggestions to help Japan further enhance its nuclear security procedures and practices. Additionally, the team identified several good practices that could serve as valuable examples for other IAEA Member States, contributing to long-term improvements in global nuclear security.

Elena Buglova, Director of the IAEA Division of Nuclear Security, underscored the cooperation of Japanese authorities with the experts’ team. “A third IPPAS mission within nine years indicates Japan’s willingness to enhance national nuclear security, as well as country’s commitment to global nuclear security. This commitment is also reflected in the country’s support for the IAEA’s nuclear security programme,” she said.

Shinsuke Yamanaka, Chairman of the NRA expressed thanks to the mission team for their diligent work on the review over a period of two weeks. “The recommendations and suggestions provided through the IPPAS mission need to be fully taken into account, scrutinised and acted upon,” he said. “We believe that the results of the IPPAS mission review will be very useful in enhancing and strengthening Japan’s nuclear security regime. Based on the IPPAS mission’s review results, Japan will continue to improve its nuclear security measures in cooperation with the relevant ministries and agencies.”

Background

The mission was the 104th IPPAS mission conducted by the IAEA since the programme began in 1995.

IPPAS missions are intended to assist States in strengthening their national nuclear security regime. The missions provide peer advice on implementing international instruments, along with IAEA guidance on the protection of nuclear and other radioactive material and associated facilities.

During missions, a team of international experts observes a nation’s system of physical protection, compares it with international good practices and makes recommendations for improvement. IPPAS missions are conducted both on a nationwide and facility-specific basis.

Posted on

Update 240 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

The water level in the cooling pond at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) continues to decrease. Despite all reactors remaining in a state of cold-shutdown, availability of this water is important for nuclear safety of the plant, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said today.

Over the past weeks, IAEA experts at the plant have observed a continuous decrease in the water level of the plant’s cooling pond. If this trend continues, ZNPP staff confirmed that it will soon become challenging to pump water from the pond. Maintaining the level of the pond is made more difficult by the hot summer weather.

Following the destruction of the Kakhovka dam last year, the ZNPP dug 11 groundwater wells to provide approximately 250 cubic meters of cooling water per hour to the sprinkler ponds. These ponds supply sufficient water to cool all six reactor units in their current cold shutdown state. During a site walkdown last week, the IAEA team observed that the sprinkler ponds are functioning well, with water at nominal levels. Any compromise to the availability of water to the sprinkler ponds might necessitate using the cooling pond as a backup source.

“The dwindling water levels in the cooling pond remains a potential source of concern, and we will continue to closely monitor and observe the situation at the site to ensure the availability of a sufficient supply of cooling water for the plant’s needs at all times,” Director General Grossi said.

The IAEA experts also continue to monitor vital maintenance activities across the site over the past week. They were informed that the majority of the maintenance work at the plant is being performed by contractors. The team observed tests of the emergency diesel generator for a safety train of unit 6, from both the emergency diesel generator room and the emergency control room. Similarly, they observed the emergency diesel generator testing for a safety train of unit 5 from the both the emergency diesel generator room and the main control room. No issues related to nuclear safety and security were noted during these tests.

Additional walkdowns were carried out across the ZNPP site to monitor nuclear safety and security. The team also noted that the three main fuel tanks at the diesel fuel farm can only be filled to a maximum of 90% of their capacity and that maintenance is planned on the tanks.

On Wednesday, the team visited the 750 kilovolt (kV) switchyard and did not observe any new issues with respect to safety and security. Also, last week the team conducted a series of walkdowns and discussions on the topic of the safety and security of radioactive sources.

During a walkdown of the reactor hall and safety system rooms of unit 5, the team observed the switching of the spent fuel pool pump and confirmed that both the pumps and safety system rooms were in good condition.

The IAEA team continues to hear military activity at varying distances from the plant. The team also observed smoke in the distance multiple times in the past week, which the ZNPP reported was caused by fires.

The IAEA experts present at the Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine nuclear power plants (NPPs) and the Chornobyl site reported air raid alarms on several days over the past week but confirmed that nuclear safety and security is being maintained despite the effects of the ongoing conflict. Separately during the last weeks, the Agency continued delivering its comprehensive assistance programme in Ukraine by supporting in various areas. As part of the medical assistance program, an ultrasound system was provided to the local hospital near to the South Ukraine NPP, ensuring that personnel operating the plant have access to the necessary medical services for maintaining their fitness for duty.

Additionally, four remote workshops were conducted focusing on mental health. These sessions trained supervisors, managers, and mental health teams from all Ukrainian nuclear facilities to recognize signs of distress, offer peer and psychological support to colleagues dealing with trauma or stress, and effectively plan and manage mental health support initiatives.

The delivery of the equipment and workshops have been supported by the United Kingdom and the United States.

Posted on

New Radiopharmacy Database: Enhancing Development, Collaboration and Research

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Over the last 20 years, developments in radiopharmaceuticals have offered immense benefits to patients, mainly for certain cancers, through early diagnosis, screening, staging and providing treatment selection options, including radionuclide therapy. This has led to the rise of radiotheranostics which uses radioactive substances to diagnose and treat diseases by targeting specific areas in the body, and it is expected to grow in the coming years.  

“As the availability of radionuclides and variety of molecules to target specific diseases increases, expectations from radiopharmaceutical sciences to provide more specific drugs for personalized cancer treatment are rising. The IAEA’s support is vital in advancing developments and making radiopharmaceutical products available for patients around the world,” says Celina Horak, Head of the Radiochemistry and Radiation Technology Section, at the IAEA.  

The consolidated database will facilitate access to different types of information, such as the types of radiopharmaceuticals and their availability; research facilities engaged in preclinical and clinical trials; and facilities that supply radioisotopes. Three pages have been created to give access to this information, divided into radionuclide production facilities, radiopharmacy facilities and a table with source data, enabling database users to easily navigate the information provided.  

The new IAEA radiopharmacy database will serve as a useful tool for a diverse community of producers, researchers and users of radiopharmaceuticals, enabling them to spot emerging trends and potential supply gaps in radiopharmaceutical production. It will also support foster collaboration between various producers, developments enabling greater access to radiopharmaceuticals in such facilities. 

“The IAEA will continue to update the new radiopharmacy database with information received from surveys sent to facilities producing radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals. The results will be available in an interactive map that will provide a global profile and status of radiopharmacies. This map will also strengthen information sharing and track trends”, said Sandra Popovic-Ovcina, the former Unit Head of Software Solutions, at the IAEA. 

Posted on

Peru Takes Steps Towards its Goal of Universal Health Care for Cancer Patients

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Members of the imPACT Review team visited hospitals and facilities in five different regions to gain a thorough understanding of the state of cancer care and control in Peru. Here they are discussing a medical diagnosis at CEIM, a medical diagnostic imaging center in Iquitos, Peru.

Peru is advancing towards its goal of delivering universal health care to all cancer patients; decentralization of nuclear medicine and radiotherapy cancer services outside of the capital city is now well underway; and its second National Cancer Control Plan is nearing completion, a team of national and international cancer experts from the IAEA, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has found.

The team were on the ground in Peru in April to conduct a thorough review of cancer control capacity and needs as part of an imPACT Review mission.

During the mission, experts noted that further reinforcements, particularly in the areas of nuclear medicine and radiotherapy, would bring further improvements, but said resources were limited. Subsequently,  IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi paid an official visit to Peru in June 2. He visited the National Cancer Institute (Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas – INEN) and confirmed the IAEA’s commitment to supporting Peru in its efforts to control cancer under the IAEA’s flagship Rays of Hope initiative, aimed at widening access to cancer care where the need is greatest.

“Through Rays of Hope, the IAEA will support Peru’s efforts to enhance cancer treatment capabilities by providing additional equipment to strengthen radiotherapy services,” he announced during the visit. 

Support is needed in a country which the IARC’s Global Cancer Observatory (Globocan) estimates to have the fourth largest incidence of cancer in the region. In 2022, the number of recorded new cancer cases were estimated to be just above 70 000, primarily affecting the prostate, stomach and colorectum. With these numbers expected to rise by more than 30 per cent by 2035, the Ministry of Health requested a second imPACT Review to support its cancer control efforts, a decade after the first.

“It was an honour to note the progress taken by the Peruvian health authorities since our organizations last conducted an imPACT Review in the country,” said Lisa Stevens, Director of the IAEA’s Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT), while in Lima with the imPACT review team. “Positive steps were observed at all levels of the cancer control continuum, including for planning, screening, training, registration and management,” she added.

Posted on

Update 239-IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

The nuclear safety and security situation at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) remains highly challenging during the military conflict, including efforts to ensure adequate maintenance of key safety systems and other vital equipment, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said today.

Over the past week, the IAEA experts stationed at the ZNPP have conducted several walkdowns focused on monitoring maintenance activities across the site, as well as the availability of necessary spare parts for the plant.

“These are areas which are of vital importance for sustainable nuclear safety and security, even though they are often overshadowed by more urgent difficulties, including the extremely vulnerable off-site power situation at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant,” Director General Grossi said.

“At all nuclear power plants around the world, maintenance is essential to prevent the degradation of reactor structures, systems, and components. This has been an especially difficult task to implement during the war. But if not conducted regularly and comprehensively, it could further increase the risk of a nuclear accident in the future. We are continuing to follow this issue very closely,” he said.

In recent days, the IAEA team observed ongoing maintenance of the components of the main electrical transformer of reactor unit 3, which were being disassembled for servicing. Once the maintenance is completed, tests will be performed to ensure the operability of the transformer prior to it returning to operation.

The IAEA experts also monitored planned maintenance activities in the reactor hall and the nuclear auxiliary building of unit 6, including the refuelling machine crane and the heat exchangers. The team was also able to observe the maintenance of some electrical as well as instrumentation and control equipment. They did not report any issues related to nuclear safety or security related to the observed maintenance activities. When visiting the same unit’s turbine hall, the team was once again not granted access to its western part.

In other areas of relevance for nuclear safety and security, the IAEA team observed emergency diesel generator (EDG) testing at unit 4, which was performed within the established nuclear safety criteria.

While visiting the ZNPP’s training centre to observe activities there, the IAEA team noted that the centre is also providing training for specialists performing metal integrity inspections at the ZNPP, using ultrasonic equipment. The centre plans to expand its capabilities to include training on the use of industrial radiography for the non-destructive testing (NDT) of metal integrity.

Over the past week, the IAEA experts have continued to hear explosions and gunfire at various distances from the site.

Following a series of outages earlier this month that also affected the availability of water, power has been restored in the nearby city of Enerhodar, where most ZNPP staff live. At the ZNPP site, the IAEA experts have had more regular access to tap water this week, following shortages last week.

Elsewhere in Ukraine, the IAEA experts present at the Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) and the Chornobyl site reported that nuclear safety and security is being maintained despite the effects of the ongoing conflict. The teams continued to report air raid alarms heard from the sites.

One of the three reactor units at the South Ukraine NPP has completed its planned maintenance and refuelling activities and was successfully restarted, while a planned outage at another unit is nearing completion.

Last week, the IAEA team at the South Ukraine NPP reported that its unit 2 was temporarily shut down following the actuation of electrical protections due to a transformer problem in the 330 kV open switchyard, located outside the NPP site. As a result of a short circuit, there was damage to the ceramic insulator, causing an oil leak that caught fire due to an electric arc. After the electrical connection was restored, the reactor was restarted and commenced supplying electricity to the grid after about 17 hours, reaching full power just over 24 hours after the shutdown.

The IAEA teams at the Rivne and South Ukraine NPPs rotated late last week and the Khmelnytskyy NPP team rotated on Wednesday.

Posted on

Progress as Countries Seek to Join the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Some 60 representatives from 14 Parties and Signatories (Argentina, Australia, Canada, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Japan, Lebanon, Lithuania, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, United Arab Emirates, and United States of America) and 18 invited observer countries (Armenia, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Kenya, Mexico, Myanmar, Paraguay, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom, and Uruguay), as well as invited observers from nuclear suppliers, insurers, lenders, the European Union and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Nuclear Energy Agency, all participated in the Fourth Meeting.

The meeting focused on efforts to expand CSC membership and to provide guidance on the operation of the CSC. In particular, representatives from countries that are in the process of, or giving serious consideration to, joining the CSC shared their views and perspectives on the convention, including suggestions on activities that could facilitate decisions to become a party. A number of reasons for joining the CSC were identified, including increasing public acceptance through higher assured compensation; addressing supply chain concerns; promoting investor and lender confidence; and securing treaty relations with both neighbouring countries and countries where suppliers, investors and lenders are located. Industry participants expressed the view that a global liability regime based on the CSC would greatly facilitate the treatment of nuclear liability in nuclear power projects around the world, and expressed the hope that more countries would join the CSC.

Ben McRae, Chair of the Fourth Meeting and Assistant General Counsel for Civilian Nuclear Programs at the US Department of Energy stated that the global nuclear liability regime based on the CSC was key to achieving the full promise of nuclear power to address climate change, economic development and energy security.

 “The CSC assures prompt, equitable and meaningful compensation for damage to people, property, and the environment and provides the legal certainty necessary for operators, suppliers, investors, lenders and insurers to participate in nuclear projects.

 “The CSC provides neighbouring countries the means to take a regional approach to dealing with liability and ensures the courts of a costal state have exclusive jurisdiction over a nuclear accident in its territorial sea and exclusive economic zone,” McRae said

Representatives from the financial sector and the insurance community also provided information on how they assess nuclear risk in deciding on investment in, and insurance for, nuclear power projects. Participants were updated on the status of compensation following the Fukushima Daiichi NPP accident.

Anthony Wetherall, Head of the Nuclear and Treaty Law Section in the IAEA Office of Legal Affairs, stated that “the annual CSC meetings and inter-sessional work contribute to the readiness of the Parties to put the convention into operation, including the supplementary international fund, should it ever be needed. In addition to discussing related matters, a key purpose of this meeting is to raise awareness and deepen the understanding of the CSC among those countries that are seeking to join the convention.”

The Inaugural Meeting of CSC Parties and Signatories was held in Ottawa, Canada in 2019, during which the IAEA accepted the request to act as the Secretariat for future meetings and to convene such meetings on a regular basis. Background

The CSC was adopted under IAEA auspices in 1997 and is the single existing international nuclear liability convention covering the greatest number of nuclear power reactors worldwide, approximately 180, or 43 per cent of such operational reactors. The CSC has 11 Parties (Argentina, Benin, Canada, Ghana, India, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, Romania, United Arab Emirates and United States of America) and 11 Signatories (Australia, Czech Republic, Indonesia, Italy, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mauritius, Peru, Philippines, Senegal and Ukraine). The Convention functions as an ‘umbrella’ for all countries that are party to one of the existing international nuclear liability conventions or have national legislation in place conforming to the basic nuclear liability principles in the Annex to the CSC. The IAEA’s online CSC calculator enables countries to run scenarios of potential contributions to the CSC’s contingent supplementary international fund.