IAEA's Grossi discusses future nuclear developments in Ukraine
International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi has met with Ukraine's President for talks about the current security situation - and also looked ahead to future new nuclear power capacity in the country.
Grossi, who had one of his meetings during the day moved to an underground shelter because of an air raid siren, said that "the dangers to nuclear safety continue to be very real and ever-present" with the six-unit Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant continuing to have to rely on just one external power line, and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) staff at the Khmelnitsky and Rivne plants having to take shelter following air raid alerts.
He said: "More than three years after this horrific war began, the IAEA’s presence on the ground remains essential to help avoid the threat of a severe nuclear accident. But at the same time, we must start looking to the future. While the IAEA remains committed to doing everything we can to help keep Ukraine’s nuclear facilities safe and secure until this devastating war ends, it is also crucial to prepare for the reconstruction phase, where the IAEA can also play an important role."
According to the report of the meeting from Ukrainian President Vlodymyr Zelensky's office, the main focus of the talks was the situation at the Zaporizhzhia plant, which has been under Russian military control since early March 2022. The president said it was essential to continue the IAEA presence at the site and "stressed that any potential attempt by Russia to restart the reactors at the plant is unacceptable".
In the IAEA write-up of the day, which also covered talks with Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko, the agency said issues covered had included a detailed IAEA safety assessment of the giant shelter at the Chernobyl site - the New Safe Confinement - which was damaged in a drone strike in February, as well as assisting with the plan to build two new units at the Khmelnitsky site and work to keep the national grid stable.
Ukraine's Ministry of Energy quoted Grossi as saying: "Nuclear energy has become a real pillar for Ukraine in these difficult times. It has provided stable and reliable electricity supply during a period of huge crisis." It said he also noted that Ukraine was a country with some of the highest skills and experience levels in nuclear technologies, giving it "a huge competitive and technological advantage". And, the ministry said, Grossi added that it was "absolutely clear that further betting on nuclear energy is not only technologically, but also economically the smartest way" for Ukraine.
The IAEA director general, who was making his 12th visit to Ukraine since the start of the war, is due to visit Russia later this week.
