Not enough water in ZNPP cooling pond in long term – IAEA

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has said that the water level currently observed in the cooling pond of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) is sufficient only to resolve the situation that arose after the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant by the Russians.

He stated this in an interview with the TV channel France 24.

At the same time, in the long run, the available amount of water is not enough.

"The first initial measures were taken by the management of the plant to preserve the water which is already contained in a cooling pond in the adjacency (sic) of the plant, but it is obvious that will not be enough in the medium and long term," Grossi noted.

Speaking about the destruction of the dam in Nova Kakhovka, which disrupted the normal mechanism of cooling due to a rather obvious decrease in the water level in the Dnipro River, which flows near the plant and from which water is taken to cool the reactors, Grossi called the destruction "a sad series of events that worsen the situation of the plant".

At the same time, Grossi called the physical protection of Zaporizhzhia NPP, the situation around which remains difficult, his main concern.

"It is obvious that in the context of the ongoing counteroffensive and the military activities there, the combat there, the plant is increasingly fragile and open to damage in case of an exchange of fire, " he said. 

"Our teams are there and they are reporting every day what’s happening," Grossi concluded.

Background:

• The water level in the cooling pond at the Zaporizhzhia NPP continues to decrease gradually. This has been confirmed by the Ukrainian side.
• At the same time, National Nuclear Energy Generating Company Energoatom systematically emphasises that the situation remains stable and controlled.
• On 22 June, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that, according to Defence Intelligence, Russia has carried out all preparations for an attack on a power plant that could lead to a nuclear catastrophe.
• Rosatom employees are gradually leaving the premises of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, as they have been instructed to leave the plant before 5 July. This was announced on 30 June by the Ukrainian Defence Intelligence.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!