Ukraine Gate – Kyiv – March 10, 2022- The IAEA lost remote data transmission from the established safeguards systems for the control of nuclear materials at the Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plants. “In recent days, the IAEA has lost remote transmission of data from its proven safeguards systems for monitoring nuclear materials at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and another Ukrainian nuclear power plant now controlled by Russian forces, Zaporizhia NPP,” the agency said.
The Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi, said he was concerned about the sudden interruption of the flow of this data to the agency’s headquarters in Vienna from the two sites, where there are large quantities of nuclear material in the form of spent or fresh nuclear fuel and other types of nuclear material. Material.
It should be noted that the reason for the interruption in the transmission of safeguards data was not immediately clear. The IAEA continues to receive such data from other nuclear facilities in Ukraine, including the three other nuclear power plants.
“Remote transmission of data from IAEA safeguards equipment located at nuclear sites around the world is an important component of our safeguards implementation, both in Ukraine and globally. Such systems are being installed at many facilities in Ukraine, including All nuclear power plants, and enable us to monitor nuclear material and activities at these sites when our inspectors are not present.
He stressed that although there are technical features to ensure that data is stored locally, the storage capacity as well as the operational status of the monitoring systems is still uncertain.
In addition, through preventive technical measures, the IAEA verifies that countries respect their international legal obligations to use nuclear materials and technology only for peaceful purposes.
Regarding the status of operational nuclear power plants in Ukraine, the regulator said that eight of the country’s 15 reactors are still operating, including two at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. She added that radiation levels at the sites were normal.
It is noteworthy that General Manager Grossi said that he will go to Antalya on March 10 at the invitation of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. “In the meetings there, I hope to make progress on the urgent issue of ensuring the safety and security of Ukrainian nuclear facilities,” he said.
As reported, the Zaporizhzhia NPP has been under the control of the Russian army since March 4. The enemy captured the Chernobyl region on February 24.
