“Military equipment in various places in the nuclear power plant interferes with the operation of the security system… Risk of meltdown”
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(Geneva = Yonhap News) Correspondent Ahn Hee = The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) urged on the 6th (local time) to establish a protected area around the Zaporiza nuclear power plant in Ukraine, which has been bombarded by shelling in the recent clash between Russia and Ukraine.
The IAEA has written a report with the suggestion that such measures are necessary to ensure the safety of employees while maintaining the physical integrity of the nuclear power plant facilities as a result of field investigations by the Japorija nuclear power plant inspectorate composed of experts, The Associated Press reported. reported
The IAEA added in its report that “the establishment of a protected area around a nuclear power plant requires the consent of the Parties”.
The report points out that the Zaporiza nuclear power plant is being operated by a limited Ukrainian staff under Russian military occupation, which puts employees under high stress and pressure, and it is necessary to provide an appropriate working environment.
He also said that nuclear power plant employees are being restricted from accessing some facilities and must obtain permission from the Russian military to go to a spent fuel storage facility. The conditions are not in place for employees to respond quickly to emergencies.
The report also states that the IAEA has identified the presence of Russian military trucks and equipment at various locations within the nuclear power plant, including two turbine halls at the nuclear power plant, which it considers to be a factor that may interfere with the operation of safety and security systems.
In particular, the IAEA said that there were several cases where the external power supply of a nuclear power plant did not function properly during the fighting between Russia and Ukraine, and if the cooling system in the nuclear power plant that relies on external power is damaged, it can lead to a large-scale ‘reactor core melting’ (meltdown). warned that it might lead to
The Zaporiza nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, has been bombarded since the 5th of last month amid the fighting between Russia and Ukraine, raising concerns regarding radioactive material leakage.
Accordingly, IAEA Secretary-General Rafael Grosi and 14 inspectors composed of nuclear power plant security experts arrived at the Japoriza nuclear power plant on the 1st and conducted the inspection, and the results will be briefed to the UN Security Council on the same day.
The two remaining inspectors are delivering to the IAEA the on-site situation they learned while residing at the nuclear power plant.
Nevertheless, the bombardment and military activities surrounding the Japorija nuclear power plant continue.
The previous day, Ukraine’s state-owned nuclear power company Energoatom said that the last of its six reactors was shut off from the grid due to a fire caused by shelling.
On the other hand, the Russian-appointed administration of the city of Enerhodar claimed that the power lines around the nuclear power plant were damaged by Ukrainian shelling, causing a temporary power outage. The city administration said seven shells hit the building at the nuclear power plant complex.
prayerahn@yna.co.kr
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