IAEA Chief Addresses Zaporizhzhya NPP Attack and Nuclear Safety Challenges

In his opening statement to the IAEA's Board of Governors today, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi highlighted the significant challenges facing the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) following a direct attack in April. This attack marked the first in one and a half years and underscored the "precarious and very fragile situation" at the plant.

Key Points from the Director General's Statement:

The attack on Zaporizhzhya NPP violated the first of the five principles Mr. Grossi previously laid out for protecting the plant.

Meetings with Ukrainian and Russian officials have taken place to address nuclear safety challenges.

The IAEA Support and Assistance Mission to Zaporizhzhya (ISAMZ) faces restricted access to crucial areas and staff at the site.

All six reactor units at Zaporizhzhya NPP have been in cold shutdown since April, enhancing overall safety.

Mr. Grossi also presented his latest report on verification and monitoring in Iran, expressing condolences for the recent deaths of key Iranian leaders, including President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. Despite these losses, Mr. Grossi emphasized that the IAEA's work continues, noting productive discussions with acting minister Ali Bagheri Kani.

Commitment to Non-Proliferation and International Engagement:

Mr. Grossi reiterated the IAEA's role in ensuring that nuclear activities remain peaceful.

He mentioned a new engagement with Syria to clarify pending issues related to past activities, following a meeting with President Bashar al-Assad.

Ongoing and Upcoming Initiatives:

The IAEA's Annual Report for 2023 and the report of the IAEA Technical Cooperation Programme were presented.

Progress in flagship initiatives like NUTEC Plastics, aimed at mitigating plastic pollution, and Atoms4Food, developed with the FAO to combat food insecurity, was highlighted.

More than 40 African countries have sought assistance under the IAEA's Rays of Hope initiative to expand access to cancer care.

Preparations for the IAEA's Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science, Technology and Applications in November 2024 are underway.

International Collaborations and Conferences:

The first Nuclear Energy Summit, co-organized with Belgium, and a new collaboration with the G20 under Brazil's presidency were noted as significant advancements.

Mr. Grossi mentioned the upcoming World Fusion Energy Group, supported by Italy, and other conferences focused on nuclear knowledge management, human resources development, and small modular reactors.

International Conference on Nuclear Security (ICONS):

The ICONS event held in Vienna, co-presided by Australia and Kazakhstan, assessed current priorities and prepared for new challenges in nuclear security.

Director General Grossi's statement underscored the IAEA's ongoing efforts to address nuclear safety and security challenges while promoting peaceful nuclear activities and international cooperation in the field of nuclear science and technology.