Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Faces Increasing Safety Concerns
Safety conditions at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine are deteriorating daily, according to Ukraine’s energy minister. The Russian-held plant has been a source of concern for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) due to lack of staffing and maintenance, even two years after its capture by Russia. The IAEA’s Board of Governors passed a resolution condemning Russia’s occupation of the plant and expressing grave concern.
Ukraine’s Energy Minister, German Galushchenko, emphasized the urgency of the situation at a recent news conference. He warned that the current state of affairs at the plant could lead to a nuclear accident if not addressed immediately. Galushchenko vowed to continue pressuring Russia at the UN nuclear watchdog to withdraw from the site.
The precarious situation at Zaporizhzhia is evident from the numerous problems reported over the past months. The plant has experienced eight instances of losing external power in the last 18 months, forcing it to rely on diesel generators to cool the fuel in its reactors and prevent a potentially catastrophic meltdown.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which has been ongoing for more than two years, has further exacerbated the safety concerns. Both sides have blamed each other for shelling that has resulted in downed power lines. Ukrainian staff who were previously employed by Ukrainian state-owned power-generating company Energoatom continue to work at the plant alongside new Russian arrivals. However, some Ukrainian workers have been denied access since February for refusing to sign Russian contracts.
A confidential report from the IAEA, seen by Reuters, reveals that the staff currently operating the ZNPP consists entirely of former Energoatom employees who have adopted Russian citizenship and signed employment contracts with the Russian operating entity. Additionally, staff from Russia have been sent to work at the plant. The report also highlights the strong psychological stress the ZNPP staff is under.
Prior to the war, there were approximately 11,500 staff members at the Zaporizhzhia plant. However, the current number of staff, according to IAEA information provided to its employees at the plant, is around 4,500. On any given day, only about 2,000 staff members are present. Russia claims that the plant has enough staff to operate its six reactors, but IAEA chief Rafael Grossi disputes this, stating that there are approximately 100 holdouts refusing to sign Russian contracts. The Ukrainian Energy Minister argues that the real number of holdouts is 380.
The issue at hand is not just the quantity of personnel but also the quality. The ZNPP requires top-level personnel who cannot be easily replaced with average personnel. This poses a significant challenge in ensuring the safe operation of the plant.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi recently discussed the situation at Zaporizhzhia during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meeting was described as professional and frank by the IAEA.
The deteriorating safety conditions at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine raise serious concerns about the risk of a nuclear accident. With staffing shortages and ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, addressing these safety concerns should be a top priority. The international community must continue to pressure Russia to withdraw from the site and provide adequate resources to ensure the safe operation of the plant. Failure to do so could have severe consequences not only for Ukraine but for the entire region.
