Category: IAEA

Posted on

Water is Everyone’s Responsibility: Interview with Retno Marsudi, the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Water

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

The IAEA Scientific Forum on ‘Atoms for Water’ kicks off on 16 September. In advance of the event, the IAEA interviewed Retno Marsudi, the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Water.

The United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Water, Retno Marsudi, shares her views on what needs to be done to ensure a water-resilient future for everyone. A global advocate for water issues, she supports efforts to mobilize action and resources and to strengthen international cooperation to advance the global water agenda. From 2014 to 2024, she served as Indonesia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs.

What does Water Mean to you Personally?

Water has always been deeply personal to me.

As a woman, I understand how water-related challenges disproportionately affect women and girls. In many parts of the world, water scarcity and limited access to safe water place an unequal burden on them, forcing them to travel long distances to fetch water for their families.

However, women are also leaders of change. I believe — and evidence consistently shows — that women’s leadership in water leads to more sustainable and equitable outcomes, not only in water but across all other development sectors.

I also believe that responsibility for water management goes beyond global commitments or institutional mandates. It speaks to our very existence, our dignity, and the life of future generations. Talking about water is not just talking about infrastructure or systems — it is talking about survival. It is about protecting the foundation of life and livelihoods.

That is why the responsibility to implement global water commitments carries great weight. It is not just about policy. It is about improving lives — everywhere, for everyone, especially for those most often left behind.

What do you see as the Key Priorities for Achieving Sustainable Water Resources for our Planet?

Water is essential to life, and today our world’s water systems are under stress like never before.

An estimated 2.4 billion people live in countries experiencing water stress. In 2022, at least 1.7 billion people globally relied on drinking water from contaminated sources.

Climate change and extreme weather events are only exacerbating this situation, with the year 2024 being the warmest on record. Urgent and multifaceted action is needed, including strengthening research, building capacities, empowering women and youth to foster innovations, and many more efforts.

At the core of all these efforts is one indispensable element: international cooperation, grounded in global solidarity.

International cooperation is key to translating global commitments into concrete actions. Unfortunately, water financing remains insufficient and is declining globally. Meeting future demands for water and water infrastructure will require an estimated $6.7 trillion by 2030, and over $22 trillion by 2050.

To achieve a water-secure future, we must prioritize bold international collaborations — particularly in financing, technology development, and capacity building for those most in need.

What are the most Effective Approaches to Accelerating Efficiency, Resilience and Sustainability in Water Management?

In my dialogues with countries and water stakeholders, I consistently emphasize that water is everyone’s responsibility. No single individual, institution or country can address global water challenges alone. Governments, the private sector, academia, civil society organizations and others must all be inclusively engaged in shaping and implementing water management efforts.

A multi-stakeholder approach strengthens ownership by ensuring that all actors are on board in the planning, implementation and evaluation of water solutions. It draws upon the diverse expertise and capacities that each stakeholder brings to the table.

Equally important is a multisectoral approach that integrates water across all dimensions of development. Through integrated water resources management, water can serve as a unifying solution to multiple global challenges, including poverty eradication, climate resilience, food and energy security, disaster risk reduction, and the empowerment of women and youth.

These approaches depend on a robust operational framework. This is where the ‘Triple A’ principle (advocacy, alignment, and acceleration of actions) becomes critical: advocacy to elevate water as a common priority; alignment to bring coherence in all water-related initiatives; and acceleration to fast-track innovation and action.

Lastly, we must not miss the chance to capitalize on the transformative role of technology, in accelerating the efficiency, resilience and sustainability of water management. With technology we can ensure the effective management and use of water. We can produce more — more food, more energy, more economic growth — with less water.

Where do you see the Greatest Potential for the IAEA to help Address Water Challenges Using Nuclear Sciences and Technology?

With its strong focus on research, development and capacity building, the IAEA has a lot to offer.

Isotope hydrology stands out as a powerful example of the transformative potential of nuclear sciences to address complex water-related challenges. The ability of isotope hydrology to precisely trace the origin, age and quality of water makes it a game-changer in water resource management.

Isotope hydrology also offers us a deep understanding of the world’s water systems, not only enabling us to respond to existing challenges, but also to anticipate and prepare for future water-related disaster risks. It strengthens early warning capacities and long-term water resilience planning.

I encourage the IAEA to continue to prioritize the application of nuclear sciences in the most pressing water challenges, especially those disproportionately affecting developing countries such as drought and water scarcity, flood risks from extreme weather and water pollution. Through the application of nuclear science and technology, I believe the IAEA will contribute to enhancing global water resilience.

What are your Hopes and Expectations for the 2026 United Nations Water Conference?

I am guided by the hopes and expectations consistently expressed by countries and water stakeholders around the world.

Expectations for the 2026 United Nations Water Conference are high. It will be a critical milestone in advancing global water progress and a pivotal opportunity to accelerate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (clean water and sanitation).

The conference is also expected to inform and shape the future of the global water agenda beyond 2030. This reflects a growing awareness that ensuring our water future requires not only immediate actions but also a clear vision for tomorrow, not just for the world’s people but also for the planet.

The success of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference relies heavily on the strong commitment of countries and water stakeholders around the world. Meaningful and actionable results can only be attained through inclusive and transparent preparation processes. I am keen to collaborate with the IAEA towards this goal.

Posted on

Statement by IAEA Director General on Iran

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

(As prepared for delivery)

Dear Chairperson,

Yesterday, in Cairo, an important step in the right direction was taken, with the agreement on Practical Modalities for the Implementation of Safeguards in Iran, signed by me and His Excellency, the Foreign Minister of Iran, Doctor Abbas Araghchi.

Being a safeguards implementing document, it is not a public one, but given its significance and its meaning allow me to refer in general terms to it and what it means.

As I have repeatedly said, once again last Monday in my opening remarks to the Board, the June attacks of nuclear installations in Iran led to an inevitable suspension of the inspection work in Iran.  Complete.

And this, for the first time since the adoption of a CSA between Iran and the Agency.

Resuming this indispensable work would not be an automatic, or a simple bureaucratic process, after what happened.

On top of this, as you all know, the Parliament of Iran adopted a law to suspend cooperation with the Agency.

This risked putting us before the real possibility of Iran failing to observe and comply with its safeguards obligations.

I am sure you will agree with me on the fact that this would not be a situation we would like to see, given its multiple and inevitably negative consequences.

It was encouraging for us to see Iran’s declared willingness not to leave the NPT and to continue working inside the international non proliferation regime.

Iran expressed concerns, and it is our duty as an international organization to listen to those, and find ways and means to address them in a form which would reconcile two equally important parameters: Iran’s new law, and the existing legal obligations emanating from the NPT safeguards agreement contained in INFCIRC 214.This required dialogue and a thorough understanding of Iran’s views.

This is exactly what we have been doing for the past few weeks through a series of bilateral technical consultations, culminating yesterday in my meeting with Dr. Araghchi in Cairo.

In essence, this technical document provides for a clear understanding of the procedures for inspection, notifications, and implementation, fully in line with the relevant provisions of the CSA.

This includes all facilities and installations in Iran, and it also contemplates the required reporting on all the attacked facilities, including the nuclear material present at those.

For this, Iran will follow its recently adopted internal procedures. And that will open the way for the respective inspections and access.

Safeguards approaches to each facility will be reviewed at technical level, always in line with the rights and obligations of Iran and the Agency under the NPT Safeguards Agreement, which are not modified or amended as a result of these practical steps.

Dear colleagues,

The technical nature of this document does not diminish its profound significance.

Iran and the Agency will now resume cooperation in a respectful and comprehensive way.

These practical steps, allow me here to state the obvious, need to be implemented now.

There may be difficulties and issues to be resolved, for sure, but we now know that we have the elements and basic understandings to do it.

it is my sincere hope that the resumption of our inspection activity in Iran may serve as a good sign, as a reference, an indication that agreements and understandings are possible and that nothing replaces dialogue if one wants durable, lasting solutions to international challenges like this one.

Finally, a word of gratitude to Egypt, to President Sisi who graciously met and encouraged us to agree, and to my dear friend, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, for his patience, wise advice, and constant encouragement.

Now, it is time to put this agreement in practice, which is exactly what we intend to do. I thank you, Madam Chairperson.

Posted on

What You Need to Know about the Largest Global Nuclear Conference

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

In September 2025, leaders, scientists and national representatives from our 180 member countries will gather in Vienna for the 69th IAEA General Conference – a critical event for nuclear decision-making. Find out more about the event and how it guides nuclear policy, peaceful uses, and the IAEA’s work.   

The General Conference is the IAEA’s main policy forum, where representatives from 180 Member States debate and decide on issues that shape the agency’s work — from budgets and programmes to peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology and energy.  

Discussions can range from welcoming new members, launching initiatives to tackle development challenges, deploying artificial intelligence to enhance efficiency of nuclear power plants, to strengthening safeguards in conflict zones.  

The General Conference helps set the IAEA’s course for the year ahead, ensuring that its activities remain effective, relevant, and responsive to global needs. 

When and where is it happening?

The 69th IAEA General Conference is being held from 15 to 19 September 2025 at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) in Vienna, Austria. 

Who attends?

Around 2,500-3,000 participants, the majority of whom represent IAEA Member States. The event also attracts around 100 delegates from international organizations and 200 from NGOs. The livestream is followed by 10,000-15,000 people around the world.  

What happens in the plenary?

The conference opens with a statement from the Director General, summing up the key issues facing the Agency this year. This is followed by statements from the UN Secretary General (delivered by proxy), and from the outgoing and incoming conference presidents. Each Member State representative is given the opportunity to give a short national statement before the group starts working down the agenda. Items of discussion are either adopted by consensus or put to a vote, with some discussions on some resolutions going late into the night. See all statements as they are posted. 

What are the resolutions adopted at the General Conference?

esolutions adopted by the General Conference cover a wide range of issues — including potential applications for membership of the Agency, budget, activities related to nuclear science, technology and applications, technical cooperation, nuclear safety and security, and non-proliferation. They set the tone for international cooperation on nuclear issues. See here for the resolutions passed last year. 

What else happens during the week?

During the week, over one hundred side events and exhibitions are held, where attendees can explore new scientific developments, tour laboratories, and share knowledge and expertise on a breadth of subjects. 

The conference also hosts the annual Scientific Forum, where scientists, policy makers and ministers hone in on a nuclear-related topic. Every year, the forum examines how nuclear science and technology can help address a pressing global challenge. Previous Scientific Forum themes include food security, nuclear energy for net zero, cancer care and more. 

What big things can we expect at the 2025 General Conference?

  • The new IAEA visitor centre will be inaugurated during the week. . Located in Seibersdorf, Austria, it will host state-of-the-art interactive exhibits that allow visitors to learn more about how the safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear science , and technology are addressing global challenges like energy, health, food security, plastic pollution, cultural heritage preservation and more. Watch this space for more information. 

  • The IAEA will inaugurate a new transportable e-beam facility housed in a 40-foot shipping container, that can be loaned to countries to help them in industry, medicine and scientific research. 

  • Member countries, the IAEA and partner organizations will host several side events that delve into nuclear issues.  View the full list of events. 

How do people from 180 countries communicate?

The working languages of the General Conference are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. Delegates can switch between these languages thanks to the skills of the UN’s Interpretation Section.  

Together the 75 UN interpreters and 70 IAEA translators provide language services for the GC plenary and other key meetings, often back-to-back until midnight.  In 2024, the IAEA team alone translated over 1 million words for the General Conference! 

If I can’t come in person, can I still follow?

Yes, the General Conference Sessions at the Plenary Hall, including the key addresses of officials and delegates, are streamed live during the whole week. Sessions of the Scientific Forum are also streamed here.  

What happened at previous IAEA General Conferences?

Watch the video below for highlights from the 2024 IAEA General Conference.  

Watch video recaps from previous years here: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, or flick through all General Conference photo albums here. 

In 2024, the IAEA ran a live conference blog with regular updates from the conference, complementing the daily highlights and regular news articles. You can look at what happened last year here and stay updated in real time for the 2025 General Conference from Monday on. 

Posted on

IAEA-Led Team Conducts Marine Environmental Sampling Near Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) today led a team of international experts in conducting seawater sampling and fishery product selection near the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS).

This marks the fifth mission carried out under the IAEA’s additional measures, which aim to enhance transparency and broaden international participation. These measures enable hands-on independent measurements of the concentration level of the water by third parties to ensure that the discharge of treated water – processed through the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) and initiated by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) in August 2023 – remains consistent with international safety standards.

International experts from the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the Russian Federation and Switzerland, alongside IAEA staff, conducted hands-on sampling of the seawater and marine samples.

The IAEA began implementing these additional measures in October of last year. In February, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi presided over the additional measures to collect seawater samples in the vicinity of FDNPS, together with international experts.

This latest mission follows the June operation, during which samples of ALPS treated water were collected ahead of the discharge of the 14th batch.

Samples collected during today’s mission will be analysed by participating laboratories including: the China Institute for Radiation Protection, the Korea Institute for Nuclear Safety, the Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory in New Zealand, Lomonosov Moscow State University in the Russian Federation, the Spiez Laboratory in Switzerland, the IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories in Monaco and designated laboratories in Japan.

All international laboratories involved are members of the IAEA’s Analytical Laboratories for the Measurement of Environmental Radioactivity (ALMERA) network, selected for their demonstrated expertise and analytical excellence.

Posted on

Update 313 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

IAEA teams in Ukraine reported hearing explosions and other indications of intense military activity overnight, further heightening concerns about the dangers to nuclear safety and security during the armed conflict, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today.

Coinciding with reports of widespread attacks in the country’s west, IAEA team members deployed at two of Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy and Rivne – heard drones as well as bursts of gunfire while in their accommodations in the cities of Netishyn and Varash, both located just a few kilometres from the two respective plants.

While there were no reports of any direct impact on nuclear safety and security at the two sites, Director General Grossi stressed that any military activity in the vicinity of an NPP could put it at risk and should cease immediately.

“I’m deeply concerned about last night’s events. According to our teams on the ground, these were unusually large-scale military activities close to these two nuclear power plants, which should never happen. Once again, I reiterate my call for maximum military restraint near such facilities. A severe nuclear accident would be in no one’s interest and must be avoided at all cost,” he said.

Following up this morning, the IAEA team at the Khmelnytskyy NPP was informed that the plant overnight detected nine drones flying as close as three kilometres from the site, while the Rivne NPP said it observed 13 such unmanned aerial vehicles in its surveillance area. This comes a week after the team at Rivne previously heard military activity from their hotel, which until now has been rare.

Director General Grossi said such military activity in the proximity of NPPs posed a threat to the Seven Indispensable Pillars for ensuring nuclear safety and security during an armed conflict that he outlined in March 2022, especially Pillar 1 on the physical integrity of nuclear facilities and Pillar 3 regarding the safety of operating staff.

“The world’s attention has – rightly – been very much focused on the extremely challenging situation at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) located on the frontline. However, the nuclear safety and security situation remains extremely vulnerable also at the four other sites where we have teams, as demonstrated all too clearly last night,” he said.

Earlier this week, Director General Grossi briefed the IAEA Board of Governors on the nuclear safety and security situation in Ukraine, highlighting continued risks during the conflict.

“The safety situation at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant remains precarious, with six of the Seven Pillars compromised,” he told the Board in his introductory statement on Monday. “Ongoing military activity, including attacks very close to the ZNPP site, are deeply concerning, adding stress and risk.”

This was also underlined by the IAEA team members deployed at the ZNPP, reporting hearing military activities on most days over the past week. They also visited a reactor unit to observe safety-related maintenance activities as well as the 750 kilovolt (kV) switchyard. However, they were not granted access to the site’s diesel fuel storage to confirm the diesel volumes available there, with the ZNPP citing security concerns.

At the Chornobyl site, Director General Grossi informed the Board that three of the Seven Pillars remain compromised following February’s drone strike on the New Safe Confinement (NSC). Despite challenges caused by the military conflict, the Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine NPPs continue to operate, supplying electricity to the national grid.

“The ongoing degradation of the electrical grid, including its crucial substations, increases the risk to safe operation of the plants, compromising Pillar 4 of the Seven Pillars,” the Director General said at the Board meeting.

He added: “Amid these challenges, the Agency continues to prioritize equipment delivery to support nuclear safety and security in Ukraine through contributions by 30 donor states and the EU.”

In the 153rd delivery of equipment to Ukraine since the start of the armed conflict, the State Specialized Scientific and Industrial Enterprise “ECOCENTRE” received supplies essential for ensuring continued environmental monitoring  in the Chornobyl NPP Exclusion Zone. The delivery was supported with funds from Sweden.

Posted on

Media Invited to IAEA’s Scientific Forum on Atoms for Water

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Scientists and experts will convene next week at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Scientific Forum, #ScientificForum, to discuss the role of nuclear science and technology in the sustainable management of one of the world’s most vital resources: water.

Water is fundamental to life, economic development, food security and environmental sustainability. The Forum will showcase innovative ways of using nuclear sciences, not only to better understand the origin, amount, distribution and quality of our shared water resources, but also to deliver practical solutions. The Forum aims to foster partnerships and mobilize resources to support the adoption of nuclear methods that will contribute to global water sustainability.

The two-day event, themed Atoms for Water, will take place on the margins of the IAEA General Conference. It begins at 09:30 CEST, Tuesday, 16 September, in Board Room D of the C Building of the Vienna International Centre (VIC). The event will be live streamed.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi will open the Forum at 09:30 CEST on 16 September, along with high-level officials. More information, including the list of speakers and detailed programme, are available online.

Discussions at the Forum will centre around four technical sessions: Strengthening Water Resilience and Global Sustainability; Quality Unknown — the Invisible Water Crisis; Climate and Hydrological Variability; and The Role of the IAEA.

The Forum will feature an Atoms for Water exhibit, including the IAEA Bottled Water Project, by the Coffee Corner in the C Building, 4th floor. Water: Reflections of the Next Generation, an exhibit of children’s art and their interpretations of water, will also be on display by the Coffee Corner.

For those interested in interviewing speakers, please send detailed requests to the IAEA Press Office.

Accreditation

Journalists with permanent credentials to the VIC or journalists who have already obtained accreditation for the IAEA’s General Conference need no additional credentials.

Journalists without accreditation must send copies of their passport and press ID to the IAEA Press Office by 14:00 CET on Monday, 15 September. 

We encourage those journalists who do not yet have permanent accreditation to request it at UNIS Vienna. 

Please plan your arrival to allow sufficient time to pass through the VIC security check. 

Posted on

Restoring IAEA Inspections in Iran Would Create “Promising Ground” for Wider Progress, Says Director General Grossi

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Mr Grossi thanked Member States, IAEA staff and others for supporting the Agency’s nuclear safety and security work in Ukraine and spoke of the ongoing precariousness of the situation. 

“Three years ago, the IAEA took a historic step when we decided, in the midst of a war that risked the safety of many nuclear power plants, that the correct thing to do was to act and not just talk.” 

The IAEA has since deployed 217 missions involving 176 staff, ensuring a presence at all nuclear power stations, including the Chornobyl site, and has provided the international community with updates on the situation in Ukraine.  

The Agency continues to prioritize equipment delivery to support nuclear safety and security in Ukraine through contributions by 30 donor states and the EU with the delivery of 150 shipments, including of nuclear safety gear, medical supplies, and isotopic-technique equipment. 

The safety situation at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant and the Chornobyl sites remain precarious, he noted.  

At Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant for example, only one off-site power line remains, posing serious safety risk, and a long-term solution still needs to be found regarding the level of water in the cooling pond. Ongoing military activity, including attacks very close to the ZNPP site, are deeply concerning, adding stress and risk. 

At the Ukraine Recovery Conference, held in Rome at the beginning of July, the Director General signed an agreement with Ukraine to support identifying, designing, implementing, and testing the necessary repair activities on the Chornobyl New Safe Confinement. 

To avoid further degradation at the site over the winter months, temporary repairs are planned for autumn, pending approval and funding. 

Posted on

Atoms4Food Assessment Mission to Pakistan Releases Recommendations for Food Security

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Building on Pakistan’s cooperation with the FAO and IAEA to produce new and improved plant varieties, the assessment mission highlighted opportunities to integrate advanced technologies such as genetic engineering, speed breeding and biotechnology into mutation breeding programmes for priority crops in Pakistan.

“[Pakistan has] used mutation breeding to create pest-resistant and drought-tolerant crops like chickpea, rice and cotton, we have employed nuclear techniques to improve soil fertility, we’ve reclaimed barren land, optimized fertilizer use for better yields and reduced costs, to give a few examples,” said  Muhammad Yussouf Saleem, Director General and Chief Scientist of the Agri- & Biotech Division of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission and the national focal point in Pakistan for Atoms4Food. “The initiative will further expand our cooperation by engaging new partners and breaking silos across sectors with a whole value-chain approach.” 

Revitalizing Pakistan’s seed system will also help capitalize on the improved plant varieties developed with FAO and IAEA support. The mission team recommended that national institutions and stakeholders across the value chain be trained to scale up the distribution and use of improved seeds, making sure they reach farmers and translate into growing yields.

Soil degradation and inefficient use of water and nutrients further limit crop production — however, decades of cooperation with IAEA has supported Pakistan’s the Nuclear Institute for Agriculture & Biology in transforming salt-affected soils into productive farmland.

The Atoms4Food assessment mission found further potential to optimize and broaden the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices in the country. This includes capacity building in efficient nutrient and water use practices, to enhance soil fertility and health, as well as reducing the carbon footprint of fertilization.

Posted on

Diet, not Lack of Exercise, is the True Driver of Obesity, Reveals IAEA Nutrition Database

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

With nearly one in eight people around the world living with obesity in 2022, the disease has more than doubled among adults and quadrupled among adolescents over the past three decades. This complex and chronic condition of excessive body fat increases the risk of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Yet despite its surge in industrialized populations, obesity is seldom seen in traditional and farming communities — a contrast commonly attributed to greater physical activity.  

At its root, obesity stems from an imbalance between calories consumed and the energy the body burns. Public health experts often point to two culprits — overeating and insurfficient physical activity. Yet the exact role each factor plays remain debated, since lower activity levels do not always translate into less energy expended over the course of a day. 

The lack of diverse, reliable data on calorie intake, energy expenditure and body composition has further complicated research. Past studies have tried to address the debate, but most focused on nonindustrial populations, lacked body fat measurements, or relied on limited information from country-level consumption data and surveys.   

To close this gap, 68 researchers turned to the IAEA’s Doubly Labelled Water (DLW) Database — a global collection of energy expenditure measurements that have been collected via the DLW stable isotope technique. With datapoints spanning 45 different countries, the database has previously been used by scientists to conduct groundbreaking research on human energy metabolism, develop a predictive equation to assess self-reporting and inform ongoing revisions of human energy requirements.  

Posted on

Update 312 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Nuclear safety remains highly precarious at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) three years after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) deployed its first team at the site, as the risk of a radiological accident persists for as long as the conflict continues, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today.

On 1 September 2022, Director General Grossi crossed the frontline to establish the IAEA’s presence at the site of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant (NPP). Since that time, 61 IAEA staff members have been deployed as part of 30 team rotations at the plant, many more than once.

“Their presence at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant is of paramount importance. In very challenging circumstances, they are closely monitoring nuclear safety and security at the site, enabling us to inform the world about developments there in a factual and impartial manner. It is crucial that the IAEA Support and Assistance Mission to Zaporizhzhya stays as long as it is needed to preserve nuclear safety in these extraordinary circumstances,” Director General Grossi said.

Underlining the ever-present dangers to nuclear safety and security, the IAEA team at the ZNPP reported hearing explosions and other military activities on several days over the past week, coming from outside the site. Earlier today, the team reported hearing six explosions from very close to the site. No impact on nuclear safety and security was reported.

The extremely fragile off-site power situation and difficulties related to access to cooling water continue to be two of the most challenging areas for nuclear safety and security at the ZNPP.

For four months now, the ZNPP has been forced to rely on one single external power line for the electricity it needs to cool its six reactors in their current cold shutdown state and for other essential nuclear safety and security functions. Before the conflict, it had ten off-site power lines available.

The water level in the ZNPP cooling pond has dropped by just over 3.2 metres since the downstream Kakhovka dam was destroyed in June 2023, falling by almost 60 centimetres in the past three months alone. This recently prompted the ZNPP to build an isolation dam in the cooling pond channel that supplies water for several plant systems.

The IAEA team reports that the ZNPP is now using mobile pumps to transfer water from the main cooling pond into this cooling channel, whose current height of about 14.1 metres enables other pumps to provide cooling water to the main reactor unit transformers and other important operating systems.

“We will continue to monitor this matter very closely, as reliable access to cooling water is essential for nuclear safety and security,” Director General Grossi said.

Last weekend, the IAEA team performed a walkdown of another vital part of the ZNPP cooling infrastructure – 12 sprinkler ponds that receive water from groundwater wells that were drilled after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam. These ponds are providing water to cool the reactors and spent fuel, among other systems important to safety. The team confirmed that they are all full.

During the past week, the IAEA team also observed planned maintenance activities being performed on equipment that form part of the safety systems of reactor units 2 and 6.

The IAEA teams at Ukraine’s operating NPPs – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – and the Chornobyl site continue to monitor nuclear safety and security at the respective sites.

On Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, all IAEA teams reported air raid alarms. The team at Rivne also heard multiple rounds of gunfire and observed unidentified flying objects from their hotel, located approximately four kilometres from the plant. The site management informed the team that eight drones had been detected within its monitoring zone. The IAEA team members at the South Ukraine NPP were informed that three drones were identified two kilometres from the site. They were also told that one of its off-site power lines had been disconnected from the grid, reportedly due to damage.

Maintenance and refuelling activities are taking place at two of Ukraine’s nine operating power reactors. 

The team at Chornobyl conducted a walkdown of the New Safe Confinement, observing that debris as a result of the drone strike in February was being removed in preparation for the installation of temporary roofing, which is expected to commence later this month.