The occupation of the Ukrainian Zaporizhzhya NPP by the Russian Federation and its military, which has been going on for more than 20 months, is a gross violation of the fundamental safety principles of the IAEA. This was announced by SNRIU Acting Chairman, Chief State Inspector for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of Ukraine Oleh Korikov at a plenary meeting of the Western European Nuclear Regulators Association (WENRA), which takes place in Paris (France).
“Principle №4 of the IAEA “Fundamental Safety Principles” clearly states that for the operation of nuclear facilities and activities to be considered justified, the benefits that they yield must outweigh the radiation risks to which they give rise”, SNRIU Acting Chairman noted.
He explained that under the normal operation conditions ZNPP, as every other nuclear facility in the world, is operated by responsible operator, under the close supervision of National Nuclear Regulatory Authority (SNRIU). Ukraine got the benefits from safe operation of peaceful nuclear facility, like electricity and heat production, employment of citizens, and development of secure energy infrastructure and etc. In addition, as the responsible IAEA member state, Ukraine implemented the highest standards for nuclear and radiation safety, best world practices, regular reassessments, safety upgrade measures, high safety culture.
“However, due to the fact that the invaders brought the war to ZNPP and Energodar and converted the biggest producer of electricity in Europe to the electricity consumer, there is no more benefits that ZNPP yield, and radiational risks multiplied significantly, because of irresponsible actions, which harmed nuclear safety and conditions of nuclear installations, which such actions leaded to. Consequently, Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant cannot be considered as a justified facility”, said Oleh KORIKOV.
“And the only way for ZNPP to comply with the Principle of Justification is to implement the provisions of IAEA General Conference resolution GC(67)/RES/16, particularly urgently withdraw all unauthorized military and other unauthorized personnel from Ukraine’s ZNPP and immediately return it to the full control of the competent Ukrainian authorities consistent with the existing licence issued by the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU) to ensure its safe and secure operation and in order for the Agency to conduct safe, efficient, and effective safeguards implementation, in accordance with Ukraine’s comprehensive safeguards agreement and additional protocol”, the head of the Ukrainian delegation stressed.
As a result, Oleh KORIKOV offered international partners:
- reconsider the restriction of russian federation rights and privileges at international institutions whose activities are related to atomic energy;
- submit for consideration of IAEA Board of Governors the implementation of IAEA GC resolution GC (67)/RES/16 and IAEA BG resolutions GOV/2022/17, GOV/2022/58, GOV/2022/71.