IAEA Director General: "Concerns Over Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Safety Due to Ukraine Dam Explosion... Will Visit Directly"

Inspection during next week's visit... Checking coolant shortage and more

Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), announced that he plans to visit the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine next week. This visit is understood to be aimed at inspecting the plant amid growing concerns over cooling water shortages and safety following the recent explosion of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Dam near the nuclear power plant in Ukraine's Kherson region.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

According to CNN on the 6th (local time), Rafael Grossi stated on his Twitter account, "In relation to the incident causing concern after the damage to the Kakhovka power plant, I will personally lead the IAEA monitoring team replacement for the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant next week," expressing his intention to visit the plant. He also emphasized, "This is a critical moment concerning nuclear security."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also said in a post on his Telegram channel following a phone call with Director General Grossi on the same day, "We discussed measures to minimize risks to the safety of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant," and added, "We agreed on the Director General's visit to Ukraine."

The reason the IAEA Director General announced a direct safety inspection of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is interpreted as being due to concerns over cooling water shortages raised after the Kakhovka Dam explosion.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest single nuclear power plant in Europe, has primarily used water from the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Dam for cooling. Since it was occupied by Russian forces in March last year, all six reactors have ceased operation, but power and cooling water supply continue to maintain reactor cooling. If the cooling water supply is insufficient, a 'core meltdown' could occur, where nuclear fuel rods melt and radioactive materials leak, potentially causing a large-scale nuclear accident.

So far, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is reported not to have experienced a direct cooling water shortage following the Kakhovka Dam explosion. The IAEA also stated, "The dam damage does not currently pose a direct threat to the nuclear power plant." It is believed that the plant can avoid immediate danger by using alternative water sources secured in advance. However, there are concerns that if the cooling water shortage persists long-term after the dam damage, safety concerns at the nuclear power plant will significantly increase.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.