Invaders move ZNPP’s unit 5 to cold shutdown – IAEA

This is stated in a new report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

“Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) has completed the planned transition of its reactor unit 5 to cold shutdown while moving reactor unit 4 to hot shutdown,” Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today.

As noted, the ZNPP conducted this change in reactor status in order to carry out maintenance activities at unit 5 that are only possible in cold shutdown. Unit 5 was transitioned into cold shutdown yesterday morning, three days after unit 4 shifted to hot shutdown, its steam now being used to treat wastewater at the ZNPP. The other units remain in cold shutdown.

The IAEA experts at the site have been encouraging the ZNPP to investigate all possible options to install an external boiler instead to generate the steam required, which would enable the site to bring all units into a cold shutdown state.

As reported previously, the Ukraine national regulator had issued regulatory orders to limit the operation of all six units to a cold shutdown state.

Yesterday, the IAEA team visited reactor unit 5 where they observed the reactor vessel, spent fuel pool and the steam generator. The team noted that all equipment seemed to be in normal condition. There were no restrictions during the visit and the team did not observe any mines or explosives.

However, during a walkdown within the site’s perimeter on Thursday, the team confirmed that the mines that they observed on 23 July were still in place. The IAEA is also continuing to request access to the roofs of the ZNPP’s reactors and their turbine halls.

Over the last few days, the IAEA team has heard occasional detonations; some at a distance away from the plant, and some apparently closer. Director General Grossi again stressed the paramount importance of adhering to the five basic principles for the protection of the ZNPP that he established on 30 May at the United Nations Security Council.

“An increased risk of military activities near the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant could potentially endanger nuclear safety and security at this major facility. I call on all sides to refrain from any action that could lead to a nuclear accident with potential consequences for public health and the environment,” Director General Grossi said.

“Now more than ever, these five basic principles designed to ensure the protection of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant must be strictly observed. It should be in everybody’s interest to help prevent a nuclear accident,” he said.

The IAEA experts at the ZNPP are continuing to closely monitor the situation regarding the availability of water for cooling the ZNPP’s six reactors and other essential nuclear safety and security functions, following the destruction of the downstream Kakhovka dam in early June and the subsequent depletion of the huge reservoir near the plant.