IAEA started negotiations on creation of nuclear safety zone at ZNPP

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has started a series of negotiations on the creation of a nuclear safety zone at the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant

Rubryka informs about this, referring to the Energoatom Telegram.

As noted in the report, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi held a meeting with US Deputy Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Bonnie Jenkins.

"The focus is on the urgent creation of a nuclear safety protection zone at the Zaporizhzhia NPP.

The priority remains the work to ensure the safety of Ukraine's nuclear facilities, and the support of the US is highly appreciated," the general director wrote on Twitter.

Grossi also held a meeting with the General Administrator of the Commissariat for Atomic Energy of France, François Jacques. In particular, they discussed efforts to protect nuclear facilities in Ukraine.

On September 22, Raphael Grossi announced the start of negotiations with representatives of Ukraine and russia regarding the creation of a security zone at the occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP. IAEA representatives held separate meetings with the Ukrainian and russian parties.

What is happening at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant?

At the beginning of the full-scale war, russia seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant on March 4.

On July 15, the Ukrainian "Energoatom" reported that the russians are installing missile complexes on ZNPP's territory, from which they are shelling the Nikopol region.

On September 1, the International Atomic Energy Agency mission arrived at the Zaporizhzhia NPP in occupied Enerhodar.

On September 2, the IAEA Director General, Raphael Grossi, confirmed that two organization representatives would remain at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant after the mission was completed.

On September 5, due to a fire caused by russian shelling of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, the last line connecting the plant to Ukraine's power system was disconnected.

On September 11, 2022, power unit No. 6 of the ZNPP was disconnected from the power grid.

Currently, electricity, which is required for cooling the reactor and other essential safety functions at the ZNPP, comes from the outside to the plant from the power system of Ukraine. It was possible thanks to Ukrainian specialists who restored power lines damaged by russian shelling.

On September 17, the IAEA announced that the ZNPP was again connected to the Ukrainian power grid.

The IAEA emphasizes that the situation with nuclear safety and security at the station remains unstable, in particular, due to constant shelling. IAEA Director General Raphael Grossi stressed an urgent need to create a nuclear safety and protection zone at the occupied ZNPP.

The head of Ukrenergo, Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, stated that the occupiers "systematically and deliberately" damaged the main network in the ZNPP area. Ukrainian intelligence has warned that the invaders may be planning another provocative attack on the city of Energodar and the NPP.

If the power supply from Ukraine's power system fails, the ZNPP also has 20 emergency diesel generators for its needs.

The IAEA promised to increase the number of its representatives at the Zaporizhzhia NPP.