Category: Nuclear Weapons

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IAEA Director General Statement in Relation to AUKUS Announcement

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

IAEA Director General Statement in Relation to AUKUS Announcement | IAEA

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23 Mar 2024

27/2024
Vienna, Austria
  1. On 15 September 2021, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States informed the Director General about their decision to initiate a trilateral effort of 18 months to “identify the optimal pathway to support Australia’s acquisition of a conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarine for the Royal Australian Navy” in the context of the AUKUS partnership.
  2. The following day, the Director General informed the Board of Governors that the Agency, in line with its statutory non-proliferation mandate, would engage with the three parties involved and consider any implications in the context of the application of Agency safeguards.
  3. In line with its treaty obligations, in March 2023, Australia formally requested the Agency to commence negotiations on an arrangement required under Article 14 of Australia’s Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement to ensure that the nuclear material which will be involved in Australia’s nuclear naval propulsion programme is not diverted to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.
  4. The consultation process with Australia on the structure and content of an Article 14 arrangement is ongoing. As part of this process, the Agency is discussing with Australia technical aspects and ways to facilitate possible verification and monitoring activities by the Agency, as well as voluntary transparency measures.
  5. On 22 March 2024, Australia announced the next stage of the AUKUS partnership, including the statement that “work has already begun to develop the skills to maintain our nuclear-powered submarines with increased visits of US and UK SSNs ahead of the arrival of Australia’s own sovereign Virginia class submarines”. The Agency will ensure that technical measures are in place to address the possible implications of the developments announced on the application of Agency safeguards.
  6. The Director General welcomes the fact that, in keeping with its stated commitment to keep the Agency informed of developments in this area, Australia informed the Agency of the developments announced yesterday in advance.
  7. The Director General will continue to keep the Board of Governors informed of developments, as appropriate.

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First Nuclear Energy Summit Held

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

The first ever Nuclear Energy Summit was held in Brussels this week, organised jointly by the IAEA and Belgium. World leaders came together to reaffirm their commitment to nuclear energy as a way to reduce carbon emissions and meet development goals.

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Update 217 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) lost the connection to its last remaining main power line for almost five hours today amid reports of widespread military action in Ukraine, once again highlighting ever-present dangers to nuclear safety and security during the conflict, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said.

The ZNPP stopped receiving power from the 750 kilovolt (kV) power line around 6:10am local time, IAEA experts stationed at the site reported. It was not immediately clear what had caused the disconnection, but the plant was informed that a short circuit of the power line occurred around 95 km from the site, on the other side of the Dnipro river.

As no physical damage to the 750 kV line was identified, it was reconnected at 11:02am. The ZNPP has repeatedly lost power over the past two years due to military-related events at varying distances away from the site.

While the 750 kV line was unavailable, the ZNPP continued to receive the external electricity it needs for reactor cooling and other essential functions from its only remaining back-up 330 kV power line, which itself was only restored in mid-March after an outage of more than three weeks. All 20 emergency diesel generators remain available in standby mode, in case of a total loss of off-site power. Before the war, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant (NPP) had access to ten off-site power lines, four 750 kV and six 330 kV lines.

The IAEA experts at the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant (SUNPP) reported that it too temporarily lost connection to one 750 kV and one 330 kV power line. It continued to have access to other power lines and remained in operation, albeit it at a reduced power output until the 750 kV line was reconnected.

“We are reminded once again about the very real dangers the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant – as well as Ukraine’s other nuclear power plants – are continuing to face every day as long as this devastating war continues. Once again, the off-site power situation at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant has been hanging by a thread,” Director General Grossi said.

Today’s power cut and reports of military action in Ukraine came after the ZNPP earlier this week postponed planned maintenance of some of its reactor safety systems due to the “general situation in the plant’s surroundings”, without elaborating. Also this week, the IAEA experts at the ZNPP reported hearing an increased number of daily explosions occurring at different distances from the site, including what appeared to be outgoing artillery and machine gun fire from areas outside the ZNPP perimeter.

It was the second time in recent weeks that the ZNPP postponed some maintenance at the site, adding to concerns about nuclear safety and security there, Director General Grossi said.

Routine maintenance work on the safety systems of reactor unit 1 was first delayed when the ZNPP last month lost the connection to its only remaining back-up power line. After the 330 kV line was restored last week, the plant had intended to resume this work and conducted the necessary preparatory tests, before it decided on Wednesday to postpone it again.

After this decision, one of the unit’s safety trains that had been taken off-line and tested ahead of the planned maintenance work was put back into service again. ZNPP reactors each have three separate and independent redundant systems – known as safety trains – comprising their safety systems. However, maintenance on the same unit’s power transformer had already begun and it remains electrically isolated, though the unit can still receive off-site power.

“The world’s attention is rightly focused on the continued danger of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant being hit or losing its off-site power. But there are several other challenging areas that we must continue to monitor closely to help prevent the risk of a nuclear accident, including maintenance, as well as staffing and the availability of spare parts. They all form part of our deep concern regarding nuclear safety and security at the plant,” Director General Grossi said.

Before this week’s postponement decision, the IAEA experts had been informed that extended maintenance periods were being planned for units 1, 2 and 6 of the ZNPP during 2024.

The further postponement of maintenance activities has the potential to adversely affect the implementation of the ZNPP’s preventive maintenance plan for this year. Director General Grossi said in a report to the IAEA Board of Governors last month that the “situation in respect of maintenance activities, should it continue, is expected to have implications for nuclear safety over time, due to degradation of the safety systems and components”.

Over the past week, the IAEA team conducted walkdowns of the six main control rooms, of the unit 6 reactor hall and safety systems rooms, as well as the emergency feedwater pumps and tanks of the same unit and unit 1, and observed the scheduled testing of several emergency diesel generators. The team also visited the turbine hall of unit 5, where the experts were able to visit all levels of the hall but were restricted from viewing the western part of the hall. The IAEA experts did not observe any nuclear safety issues during these walkdowns.

The IAEA experts were informed that the four diesel steam generators had been shut down following the processing of around 1200 cubic metres of liquid waste and borated water.

Elsewhere in Ukraine, the IAEA experts at the Khmelnytskyy and Rivne NPPs as well as at the Chornobyl site have reported that nuclear safety and security continues to be maintained, despite multiple air raid alarms throughout the week. Maintenance in the turbine hall of unit 2 at the Khmelnytskyy NPP is ongoing, and unit 4 at the Rivne NPP is in planned outage.

This week the Agency organised the 41st delivery of equipment to Ukraine as part of its comprehensive assistance programme for maintaining nuclear safety and security in the country. The State Emergency Services of Ukraine and its Special Aviation Detachment of the Operative-Rescue Service of Civil Protection received radiation detection and monitoring equipment, including related accessories such as portable power supplies, data acquisition systems and similar items. The equipment was donated by the National Nuclear Security Administration of the US Department of Energy.

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Harnessing Isotope Hydrology for Water Diplomacy: UN World Water Day 2024

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Prosperity and peace rely on water

Water cooperation can be a powerful tool for science diplomacy. Instances of cooperation over water that nurtured peaceful collaboration have historically extended beyond water-related issues and acted as a stabilizing force and catalyst for sustainable development. Water cooperation, both within and between countries, can pave the way for collaboration across all sectors. At the local and national levels, integrated water resources management and a circular economy approach are promoted. At the basin level, countries are encouraged to develop agreements and institutions for the peaceful management of transboundary water resources.

As climate change, population growth and water scarcity intensify, placing immense pressure on food supply, the need for sustainable water management becomes increasingly urgent. Only 0.5 per cent of earth’s water is available as freshwater and climate change poses a significant threat to this vital resource. The IAEA’s commitment to make a positive impact towards a sustainable and equitable water future aligns with the Paris Agreement‘s adaptation goals. 

The celebration of the UN World Water Day 2024 is an opportunity to once again recognize the critical role of water cooperation in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The IAEA, through initiatives like the GloWAL Network, exemplifies its commitment to empowering nations, fostering cooperation, and promoting water’s pivotal role in global peace and prosperity.
 

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World Leaders Convene for Nuclear Energy Summit

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

The first ever Nuclear Energy Summit starts tomorrow, where world leaders will gather to discuss how nuclear power can help drive sustainable development.

Co-chaired by the Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Croo and the Director General of the IAEA Rafael Mariano Grossi, the Summit will be the highest-level meeting to date exclusively focused on the topic of nuclear energy. It comes in the wake of the historic inclusion of nuclear energy in the Global Stocktake agreed at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai in December 2023, which called for accelerating its deployment along with other low carbon energy sources.

Director General Grossi said, “This historic summit will build on the momentum of COP28 where the world finally agreed it must invest in nuclear energy to meet its climate goals. Now is time for action, for laying out the concrete steps that will make the investment happen.”

Leaders speaking at the historic meeting are expected to include the presidents or prime ministers of Armenia, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden.

High level representatives from the following countries will also give their national perspective on the topic: Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Egypt, India, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

The night before the summit, President de Croo and Mr Grossi will host an evening debate with more than 70 young science communicators at the iconic Atomium in Brussels.

The summit will start with opening speeches by the co-hosts before the adoption of a key declaration about nuclear energy. The heads of state will speak next followed by other national statements.

The afternoon will consist of technical panel discussions on the practical steps needed to leverage nuclear energy’s full potential to tackle global challenges.

These include sessions on factors influencing deployment; global, regional and national perspectives; technological advancements and innovations; and importantly, finance.

“The summit will provide an opportunity for leaders to support each other as they create the conditions for new nuclear reactors,” Director General Grossi said. “To progress, we need a level financial playing field. That means nuclear energy getting the kind of support already given to other energy sources, whether nationally or by international institutions, such as development banks.”

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IAEA Director General Meets President of Syria and Agrees on New Engagement with Syria and Increased Cancer Care Support

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Syria’s national cancer control capacities were assessed in late 2022 by the IAEA and its partners in an imPACT Review. The review found that Syria, like many other middle-income countries in the Arab world, is facing a significant increase in the occurrence of cancer cases. Cancer cases and deaths are expected to double between 2020 and 2030. Childhood cancers make up around five to 10 per cent of the cancer burden in the country, with approximately 1500 new cases each year.

Cancer is too often detected late or at an advanced stage in Syria, presenting a formidable challenge for healthcare providers. The 2022 imPACT review concluded that this cancer burden could be alleviated by early detection schemes, particularly for breast and prostate cancers.

Syria has two well-equipped paediatric oncology centres with multidisciplinary cancer care that treat more than 50 per cent of paediatric cancer patients in the country. However, many children do not complete the recommended treatment due to drug shortages and service disruptions.

An increase in childhood cancers is coupled with limited access to diagnostic imaging, radiotherapy and nuclear medicine, due to shortages of equipment and technology as well as an inadequate workforce and heavy workloads.

The 2022 review recommended that a national action plan be developed for Syria and implemented with IAEA and WHO support — including the development of a cancer registry and surveillance tools, the establishment of a national radiotherapy programme and the implementation of accredited training programmes in diagnostic imaging and nuclear medicine.

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Q&A with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo: The Road to Net Zero Starts Here

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Alexander De Croo, the Belgian Prime Minister,  will be co-chairing the first ever Nuclear Energy Summit with IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi.

Nuclear energy is attracting growing interest from many countries because of its ability to cut the consumption of fossil fuels while meeting rising demand for low-carbon dispatchable electricity, bringing us closer to achieving our global net zero targets. The Summit will be the highest-level meeting to date exclusively focused on the topic of nuclear energy.

Prime Minister De Croo talks to us about the significance of the Summit and the role of nuclear energy in achieving net zero.

Q: What are the key objectives of the Nuclear Energy Summit, and how do you anticipate it influencing global conversations and actions related to nuclear energy and developing technologies?

This is the first time that a global Nuclear Energy Summit has been organized with the participation of heads of State, and this underlines the importance of this meeting, to be held in Brussels on 21 March 2024. The Summit provides an opportunity for all participating leaders to share their views on the role that nuclear technology must play — and will play in the coming years —in meeting the decarbonization objectives that we have collectively set ourselves. This is a strong political signal, recognizing the essential role of nuclear power for many countries around the world on the road to net zero.

Talking about something is good. Implementing solutions is much better. That’s why we’ve decided to combine these discussions at a political level with a scientific symposium that will bring together key industrial stakeholders to enable them to showcase their latest innovations and help them build the bridges and partnerships that will develop the projects of tomorrow.

Q: How do you see nuclear energy contributing to the global transition toward cleaner and more sustainable energy sources, especially in the context of transitioning to net zero?

As part of the solution. For one thing, the war in Ukraine has opened our eyes in Europe to the fact that we can no longer depend on others for our own energy needs. We need to take back control and diversify our energy sources as much as possible. Europe has rediscovered the geopolitical reality of energy policy. At the same time, we need to accelerate our energy transition if we are to meet the climate targets that we have set ourselves for 2050.

Q: Why now? Why do you think there is a need for this Summit?

Just look at how central nuclear energy was in the discussions at COP28 in Dubai. We now need to move from ideas and projects to implementation. That’s the real challenge. We must seize this momentum to create the political and economic space that will enable us to move from PowerPoints to operating projects, whether we are talking about small modular reactors (SMRs) or other innovative solutions that will enable a stable base load for our industries around the world.

Q: Nuclear energy often meets with public scepticism. What strategies do you think are crucial for enhancing public understanding and acceptance of nuclear power to address climate change?

In a way, this shift has already happened. Public awareness of nuclear energy has not been this high in many decades. Even in countries like my own, where nuclear energy was set to be entirely phased out, you see a stark shift in public opinion favouring the contribution of nuclear power in the energy mix. You see this trend in other countries as well. We must seize this renewed support to establish the strongest possible transparency and trust of our public opinion. We cannot afford to downplay the contribution of nuclear power, but let’s not oversell it either. We need to be realistic in our ambitions in terms of how nuclear energy fits in the overall energy mix of countries, and discuss the opportunities and challenges in a transparent way. The first Nuclear Energy Summit can make a major contribution to this objective.

Q: What challenges and opportunities do you foresee in the widespread adoption of nuclear energy on a global scale, and how can these challenges be addressed?

It’s important to me to talk about the opportunities, which are enormous. Climate change is the greatest challenge of the millennium. But we can turn it into a positive result, creating jobs, increasing the quality and resilience of our societies and offering a real future for innovation and our industry. The challenge is to consolidate our efforts by bringing together the expectations of citizens, politicians, our industries and all stakeholders to work together to implement this response, which involves nuclear energy. The goal is to make this Summit a truly global one, to involve partners from around the world. Climate change does not stop at national borders, and phasing out fossil fuels in only one part of the world will not be enough. We need a collective response at the global level that takes account of differences between continents and countries. We are hosting the first Nuclear Energy Summit, and when we make this a success, it will certainly not be the last.

Q: In your view, how can nuclear energy enhance energy security and foster economic development, both nationally and globally?

Look at what we were able to do in Belgium. We steered around 20 year-long policies and reviewed our position to phase out nuclear energy. We did this at a time when we had never invested so much in renewable energies. Belgium’s ambition is to quadruple its production of offshore wind energy in the North Sea to 8 gigawatts (GW) by 2040 and connect our offshore infrastructure with other North Sea countries through the construction of the world’s first energy island. By 2040, this will cover the consumption of 50% of all Belgian households. Not bad for a country with just over 60 kilometres of coastline! But this needs to be complemented by other low carbon energy sources, such as nuclear power. Besides the long-term operation of the Doel 4 and Tihange 3 reactors, we have decided to invest in nuclear innovation at the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK-CEN) in Mol. Belgium’s ambition is to be part of innovative research into the dismantling of nuclear facilities, medical applications of radioisotopes and the development of fourth-generation SMRs.

Q: Given the advancements in nuclear technology, including SMRs, large reactors and fusion technology, how do you see these innovations shaping the future of nuclear energy and contributing to a more sustainable energy landscape?

Innovation is key to any sector’s future. Transitioning to a net zero future requires an overhaul of our energy systems. We will continue to need an important baseload in our societies, and nuclear energy will continue to play a critical role in many countries in this regard. But we will also need more agile and smarter energy systems if we are to succeed. Our future energy systems will need to be resilient, provide security of supply, be carbon neutral and come at the lowest possible operating cost. Much of the innovation in the nuclear sector is addressing these challenges. It shows that the sector is on the right path.

The Nuclear Energy Summit will be an opportunity for all participating leaders to share their views on the role that nuclear technology must play — and will play in the coming years —in meeting the decarbonization objectives that we have collectively set ourselves.

Alexander De Croo, Prime Minsiter of Belgium
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IAEA Director General meets Iraq PM to Discuss Intensified Support for Nuclear Energy, Cancer Care and Radioactive Waste Clean-up

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

The latest IAEA missions from 10 March to 22 March aim at incorporating Iraq’s advancements into a national integrated strategy for radioactive waste management, emphasizing environmental safety and international standards compliance.

“It’s crucial that we bring to a successful and satisfactory phase, the work of decommissioning, the work of remediation of the remnants from the past,” Mr Grossi said.

“IAEA experts are this week present in Baghdad, carrying out important technical work.”

During the visit to the Al Tuwaitha site, Mr Grossi learned how plans for a new Iraqi low-level radioactive waste (LLW) repository are taking shape.

Once at the heart of Iraq´s nuclear programme, the Al Tuwaitha site has proved particularly challenging in terms of decommissioning and remediation. Its former nuclear facilities were destroyed due to military actions between 1981 and 2003, rather than taken out of operation in a controlled and planned way. Many facilities were damaged or looted.

The proposed Al Tuwaitha Disposal Facility has been designed with IAEA assistance under the EU’s Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation project and aims to provide a solution for the disposal of low-level radioactive waste arising from the decommissioning of Iraqi nuclear installations.

“Given Iraq’s complex inventory of radioactive waste resulting from decommissioning activities and various forms of contaminated or nuclear material, the integration of its management into a single integrated strategy is imperative,” said Rebecca Robbins, an IAEA waste management expert.

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IAEA Mission to Costa Rica Encourages Continued Improvement in Nuclear Security Arrangements

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) completed an advisory service mission to Costa Rica to assess the country’s nuclear security regime for nuclear and other radioactive material out of regulatory control (MORC). The team found that several processes and measures for the nuclear security regime in relation to MORC are implemented and encouraged Costa Rica to further enhance national coordination for the implementation of nuclear security measures for MORC. It was the first such mission to the country.

The mission, carried out at the request of the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) of the Republic of Costa Rica and in close coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship (MOFA) took place from 4 to 15 March. Seven experts from Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Spain, the United States of America and the IAEA participated in this mission.

International Nuclear Security Advisory Service (INSServ) missions aim to help States to better prevent, detect and respond to criminal and intentional unauthorized acts involving nuclear or other radioactive material, known as MORC, which is lost, missing, stolen, improperly disposed of, or not adequately stored or handled.

This mission aimed to review the current state of nuclear security in relation to MORC in Costa Rica and to provide recommendations on how to strengthen it in accordance with international legal instruments and guidance and good practices.

The team conducted a series of meetings with officials from the Ministry of Presidency, MOFA, the OIJ, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Health, the Fire Department, National Emergency Commission, the 911 Emergency System, the University of Costa Rica, and the Atomic Energy Commission.

The INSServ team visited facilities of the OIJ, including its Forensic Science Laboratory, the Directorate of Intelligence and National Security (DIS), the Special Intervention Unit (UEI), the Fire Department, the University of Costa Rica, and the 911 Emergency Centre in San Jose.

“Costa Rica is in the process of establishing a framework to regulate and respond to events related to MORC”, said Team Leader Carlos Nogueira from Brazil. “We appreciate the high level of cooperation throughout the mission and hope that the mission’ recommendations and suggestions will assist the country to strengthen its nuclear security systems and measures for MORC.”

The team said that Costa Rica is on track to achieve tangible results in establishing a nuclear security regime for MORC. Still, it recommended the country to further work on the national response system for criminal or intentional unauthorized acts involving MORC, and to introduce relevant offences and appropriate penalties in its national legal framework.  Further recommendations addressed aspects of coordination among competent authorities, especially with regard to the definition of different roles and responsibilities.

The team identified the timely notification of incidents and emergencies to relevant authorities by Costa Rica´s 911 Emergency System as a good practice. The team also acknowledged that the country successfully developed and deployed nuclear security systems and measures for the FIFA U20 Women´s World Cup in 2022 with IAEA assistance.

“The full scope INSServ mission to Costa Rica builds on the country’s systematic cooperation with the IAEA for the enhancement of MORC-related nuclear security detection and response systems,” said Elena Buglova, Director of the IAEA Division of Nuclear Security, during the closing session. “We welcome that Costa Rica hosted this mission, which is also the first INSServ conducted under the new INSServ guidelines for Latin America and the Caribbean.”

IAEA’ INSServ missions are part of ongoing efforts to assist Member States in strengthening their nuclear security regimes in relation to MORC. The Agency provides a range of services in this area, including expert advice, training, and equipment support, to help Member States protect against criminal or intentional unauthorized acts involving such materials.

“We would like to express our gratitude for the guidance the IAEA has provided to Costa Rica through the assessment. We appreciate the suggestions and recommendations of the international team of experts. They will be of great benefit to the national nuclear security regime, particularly in enhancing the coordination among competent authorities,” said Ambassador Alejandro Solano, Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs, MOFA.

Background

The mission was the 87th INSServ mission conducted by the IAEA since the programme began in 2006.

INSServ missions, based on the INSServ guidelines published in 2019, assist States in establishing, maintaining and strengthening their nuclear security regime related to nuclear and other radioactive material out of regulatory control.

The missions provide independent advice on implementing international instruments, along with IAEA guidance on the prevention and detection of and response to criminal and intentional unauthorized acts involving nuclear and other radioactive material out of regulatory control.

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Update 216 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) has regained access to its only remaining back-up power line, following an outage of more than three weeks that once again underlined persistent nuclear safety and security risks facing the site, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said today.

The ZNPP’s connection to the 330 kilovolt (kV) off-site power line was restored shortly after 6pm local time on Thursday, providing a much-needed buffer for the plant which has suffered eight complete loss of external power events over the past year and a half.

The 330 kV line was lost on 20 February due to an incident on the other side of the Dnipro River, leaving the ZNPP entirely dependent on its only 750 kV line. Before the conflict, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant (NPP) had a total of ten power lines available, four 750 kV and six 330 kV lines.

“Last evening’s positive development should not hide the fact that the power situation at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant continues to be extremely fragile and vulnerable to further disruptions. I remain deeply concerned about the nuclear safety and security situation at this major nuclear facility,” Director General Grossi said.

In addition, IAEA experts stationed at the site have continued to report on explosions and other indications of military activity not far from the ZNPP. They heard blasts at various distances from the site every day over the past week, including explosions nearby in the morning and evening of 8 March and again in the morning and late at night the following day. On Wednesday, the team heard around 13 rounds of outgoing artillery fire.

“What once seemed unimaginable – military activity near a nuclear power plant – has become a daily reality. The situation is not improving and as long as this tragic war continues, the plant remains in danger. For this reason, I again call for maximum restraint and full observance of the five concrete principles established at the United Nations Security Council in May last year,” Director General Grossi said.

The IAEA experts at the ZNPP were informed by the plant of a drone attack in an area outside the perimeter of the ZNPP site during the week. There were no casualties reported. The event occurred at around 6pm local time on Tuesday, 12 March. The IAEA experts were first informed by the ZNPP on 13 March at 1pm, where upon they immediately accessed the location of the reported impact, roughly 550 meters from the site perimeter. The team observed a shallow cavity in the ground approximately 70cm in diameter, located just outside the concrete wall that surrounds the off-site diesel fuel storage area, some 100 meters from the diesel fuel storage tanks. The team also observed some partially burnt foil/plastic material in the area.

The off-site diesel fuel tanks store additional fuel for the emergency diesel generators (EDGs) for the six reactor units at the ZNPP. Together with the fuel stored at each EDG on-site, the plant currently has enough diesel fuel for more than 20 days operation of the EDGs in the case of a total loss of off-site power.

The impact did not cause damage to any structures, including a warehouse approximately 40 meters from the impact site, and there was no impact on nuclear safety. On the basis of the available evidence and visual observations, the IAEA is unable to confirm if the event was the result of a drone attack or other type of projectile.

The IAEA experts at the site, who crossed the frontline to travel to and from the plant as part of a scheduled rotation this week, have continued to conduct walkdowns and assess nuclear safety and security at the ZNPP.

They reported that the ZNPP’s four diesel steam generators have resumed operations to treat liquid waste. These recently-installed steam generators were previously operating in early February, but were then switched off for just over a month until a sufficient volume of liquid was ready to be treated.

As part of ongoing efforts to monitor the well-being of personnel, the IAEA team was briefed by an on-site psychologist on the continuous evaluation of all staff, with some additional assessments for operators of the main reactor control rooms and turbines.

The IAEA experts also observed simulator training of operating staff in the training centre, where they held discussions with the ZNPP training centre and Rostekhnadzor, the nuclear safety regulatory body of the Russian Federation, about the process that staff must follow to obtain their operating “authorizations”.

The IAEA experts were informed that staff are being trained considering the present situation at the ZNPP, with all reactor units either in cold or hot shutdown, as well as the current status of the external power lines and cooling water.  The ZNPP says it has enough authorized operating staff to maintain the reactor units in their current shutdown states.

“The staffing situation at the plant remains a vital issue for nuclear safety and security that we will continue to monitor closely,” Director General Grossi said.

The IAEA experts present at the Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine NPPs as well as at the Chornobyl site have reported that nuclear safety and security is being maintained despite the challenging war-time circumstances, including the frequent sound of air raid alarms at some of the facilities.

The IAEA team at the Khmelnytskyy NPP had to go to the site’s shelter four times this week, on 10 and 11 March, respectively. At the same site, the IAEA team was informed that the plant manually shut down its reactor unit 2 on Wednesday to investigate an issue with the turbine shaft. Nuclear safety and security was not affected by this event.  

The IAEA experts at the Rivne, South Ukraine and Khmelnytskyy NPPs all rotated this week.

The IAEA has continued to deliver equipment to help maintain nuclear safety and security in Ukraine. This week, two deliveries took place bringing the total to 40 since the armed conflict began. Alpha and beta radiation counting systems, portable radio-communication equipment and personal protective equipment reached the Rivne NPP and the Chornobyl site. The equipment was procured using funding from the European Union and the United Kingdom.