Berlin. September 6. INTERFAX - IAEA experts advise to create a safety zone around the Zaporozhye NPP to reduce the likelihood of problems with the plant, according to the agency's report published on Tuesday.
"There is an urgent need to take interim measures to avoid a nuclear incident that may occur due to hostilities. The issue can be resolved by immediately creating a security zone," the document says.
"The IAEA is ready to immediately begin consultations on the urgent creation of such a safety zone at the Zaporozhye NPP," the report says.
It notes that the IAEA "remains extremely concerned about the situation at the NPP." The Agency recalls that seven aspects have been identified on which, according to its experts, difficulties are observed at the station. "Therefore, the IAEA made recommendations on all these seven points," the document emphasizes.
The IAEA experts recommended that all parties involved "contribute to ensuring efficient supply chains to maintain nuclear safety at the plant in any conditions."
Once again, the agency noted that "all military activity that may affect the power supply systems of the station should be stopped."
Experts said that it is necessary to work out emergency response functions at the NPP and restore funds to perform these functions. Readiness for any emergency situations should be restored through regular training. Also, according to experts, it is necessary to have logistical support and accessible means of communication, including the Internet and satellite communications. Communication with all external organizations necessary for the safe operation of the plant should be ensured.
Last week, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said that he was most concerned about "the physical integrity of the station, the issue of its power supply, issues related to personnel."
"We can work on other issues," he told reporters in Vienna.
As reported, in order to illustrate the state of affairs at the NPP, Grossi showed reporters a table on which seven aspects are evaluated.
The first item - "physical integrity" - is indicated on the table in red, symbolizing the most serious problems. Grossi explained that this point causes him concern because there were fighting in the area of the nuclear power plant. Grossi also noted that his team saw traces of shelling on the territory of the station, to which it was subjected.
The second item - the operation of security systems - is displayed in yellow. Grossi stressed that most of the systems are working fine, but some problems have been identified.
The third point is the working conditions of the staff. To display the situation, the table shows a circle, half of which is red, the other half is yellow. Grossi recalled that this aspect is of serious concern to the IAEA. The general director of the agency explained that he did not paint the circle only in red, since, according to his observations, the work at the NPP is carried out professionally.
The fourth point - the power supply of the NPP - is painted in the same way as the third. Grossi noted that this issue is important, since electricity is needed, in particular, for the operation of the reactor cooling system.
The fifth point - logistics issues - caused Grossi, in general, optimism: the circle is painted in yellow and green. He explained this by the fact that he was assured at the NPP that there were no serious problems with the supply of everything necessary for its operation to the station.
The sixth point is radiation monitoring and emergency response systems. Half of the circle in this case is colored green, the other half is red. Grossi stressed that in this area "there were system shutdowns," but there were also positive moments. Hence the decision to use both red and green colors.
