Category: IAEA

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) temporarily lost all off-site power for the 12th time since the start of the military conflict, following widespread military activity that disrupted the country’s electrical grid on 13 December. This incident once again underscores the continued fragility of nuclear safety conditions amid the conflict, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today.

In the early hours of 13 December, both the 750 kV Dniprovska main power line and the 330 kV Ferosplavna-1 backup power line were disconnected, resulting in a complete loss of off-site power for more than two hours. All available emergency diesel generators automatically started, ensuring continued cooling and other essential safety functions. Both external power lines supplying the plant – Europe’s largest Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) – have since been reconnected and the diesel generators were returned to standby mode.

On 15 December, despite the ZNPP maintaining access to its two remaining external power lines, another incident highlighted the plant’s fragile nuclear safety situation. Power transmission between the ZNPP switchyard and the Zaporizhzhya Thermal Power Plant (ZTPP) switchyard through the autotransformer became unavailable, significantly reducing flexibility and resilience of the site’s electrical configuration. Following an investigation conducted by the ZNPP, damage to the transmission line was detected between the autotransformer and the ZTPP switchyard, reportedly due to military activity.

The ZNPP reported to the IAEA team at the plant that access to the affected area cannot be granted for security reasons. As of today, the ZNPP is still investigating ways to repair the line. 

Separately, nuclear safety at Ukraine’s three operating NPPs remains under pressure due to ongoing military activity and related damage to transmission infrastructure. Over the weekend, grid disruptions caused fluctuating power outputs and temporary disconnections of power lines at the Khmelnitsky, Rivne, and South Ukraine NPPs. In several instances, units operated at reduced capacity to maintain grid stability and prevent equipment damage. IAEA teams on site continue to monitor conditions closely and maintain regular communication with plant operators.

“Persistent instability in Ukraine’s electrical grid continues to undermine nuclear safety,” Director General Grossi said. “Although backup systems have worked as designed, repeated losses of off-site power and limited redundancy increase risk and reinforce the need for reliable external power.”

Over the past two weeks, an IAEA team assessing the status of electrical substations critical for nuclear safety and security in Ukraine confirmed that the grid situation is now in its worst condition since the Agency began monitoring substations in September 2024.

The latest mission, conducted from 1 to 12 December 2025, involved visits to more than ten substations – critical for ensuring nuclear safety and security by providing the electricity all NPPs need for reactor cooling and other safety systems. The objective of the mission was to assess damage, review repair efforts, and identify practical steps to strengthen the resilience of off-site power supplies to the country’s NPPs.

Assessing conditions against the Seven Indispensable Pillars for ensuring nuclear safety and security during an armed conflict, the team confirmed that continued and deliberate attacks on critical grid infrastructure have caused cumulative impacts on NPP operations and staff conditions. Power cuts are affecting cities where plant personnel live, undermining living conditions and directly impacting staff through disruptions to electricity, heating, and water supply.

“The strikes on Ukraine’s electrical grid appear coordinated to maximize disruption, and their frequency and scope underscore that the overall stability of the grid is deteriorating rather than improving,” said Director General Grossi. “I repeat my call for maximum military restraint. No one wants, or benefits from, a nuclear accident” Director General Grossi added.

The IAEA has continued to deliver on its comprehensive programme of assistance to help Ukraine maintain nuclear safety and security. Five new deliveries have been made, bringing the total to 194 since the start of the conflict. 

Under the medical assistance programme, the medical unit at Khmelnitsky NPP received essential medications, while the Kherson Regional Infectious Diseases Hospital was provided with a digital colour Doppler ultrasound system within the framework of the IAEA Support and Assistance Mission to the Kherson Oblast (ISAMKO). Additionally, equipment and spare parts intended to support the safe operation of the South Ukraine NPP by maintaining a reliable power supply were delivered to the Joint Stock Company “Mykolaivoblenergo.” The Chornobyl NPP also received equipment to enhance its physical protection measures at the site. 

The deliveries were supported with funding from Austria, the European Union, France, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom. 

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Electron beam treatment of wastewater is highly effective, but still relatively unknown in many industrial sectors. To increase the awareness of this application, Brazil has made the unit mobile, with support from the Republic of Korea. Worldwide, only a handful of transportable e-beam accelerators are in use for industrial applications. The truck-mounted accelerator will be able to visit industrial sites around the country with ease – showcasing how e-beam irradiation can solve wastewater challenges and providing an opportunity for in-person training. The mobile irradiator has already been tested for various applications in chemical, oil, and sanitation sectors, such as São Paulo Sanitation Company and Petrobras. It has also been used for training purposes including with the National Industrial Apprenticeship Service.  

“Together, we developed the mobile unit, which uses nuclear technology — an e-beam accelerator — to degrade organic compounds in wastewater,” said Wilson Calvo, Director of Research and Development, CNEN. “The main proposal is to reuse this water, for example from clothing production or industrial applications,” he said. 

The unit, equipped with a 700 keV, 28.5 mA and 20 kW industrial electron accelerator, was established by the Nuclear and Energy Research Institute (IPEN), which is part of CNEN, supported by the IAEA technical cooperation programme, the Brazilian Innovation Agency, the National Research Council and Truckvan. Wastewater flows directly through the unit, where it is irradiated by the e-beam accelerator. This breaks down toxins and makes any additional conventional treatments more efficient. Up to 1000 cubic metres of wastewater can be treated every day.  

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Zeinab joined the Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA) as a teaching assistant in December 2006 and within two years, became a nuclear safeguards inspector.  

“That was a game changer,” she said. “I moved from pure chemistry to nuclear science, which opened an entirely new world for me.”  

In 2014, Zeinab became Head of the Nuclear Security Administration at the EAEA . “I was the first and only woman in that position,” she recalled. “It was not easy, but every obstacle became another reason to work harder.” 

Zeinab’s leadership shaped Egypt’s national framework for nuclear security and helped build technical capacity for nuclear security at the national level. Her expertise soon earned international recognition.  Over the years, she collaborated extensively with the IAEA, supporting training courses across the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. 

In 2021, she joined the IAEA’s Division of Nuclear Security — a milestone she considers a defining point in her career. “When I was selected by the IAEA, it felt like the culmination of fifteen years of effort,” she said. 

At the IAEA, Zeinab supports countries to enhance their nuclear security regimes and develop sustainable capacity building programmes. She sees herself as both a scientist and a nuclear security specialist.  

“Being a professor is something I’ve never left behind,” she said. “My scientific background keeps me grounded and connected to my roots.”  

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Persistent instability in Ukraine’s electrical grid continues to challenge nuclear safety during the military conflict, at times causing disruptions in the availability of off-site power for the country’s main nuclear sites, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today. 

Early in the morning of 6 December, at 3:21am, the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) suffered yet another loss of all off-site power – its 11th during the conflict – lasting for about half an hour when both of its remaining power lines were disconnected within 20 minutes of one another. 

At the time of the event, all available emergency diesel generators (EDGs) on site automatically started up to generate the electricity the plant needs to operate the water pumps used for reactor cooling and for other essential nuclear safety and security functions. 

“While the emergency backup system functioned as designed, repeated loss of off-site power events increases operational stress and highlights the importance of maintaining reliable off-site power,” Director General Grossi said.

While the 330 kilovolt (kV) Ferosplavna-1 line was reconnected to the ZNPP after just 29 minutes, the 750 kV Dniprovska main power line was restored nine hours later. Earlier in the autumn, the ZNPP went for one month without any off-site power, the longest such event during the conflict. 

Elsewhere in Ukraine, widespread military activities last Saturday also affected the grid and external power supplies to the three operating nuclear power plants (NPPs), prompting them to reduce the output of several reactors. 

“These disruptions have resulted in fluctuating power outputs, temporary disconnections, and forced outages at some units. In several cases, units were taken off-line or operated at reduced capacity to maintain grid balance and prevent equipment damage following sudden protection actuations,” Director General Grossi said.

“In terms of nuclear safety and security, the fragile grid and power situation remains one of the biggest challenges. As the Seven Indispensable Pillars for ensuring nuclear safety and security during an armed conflict clearly state: there must be a secure off-site power supply from the grid for all nuclear sites. All too often, this is far from the reality that our experts see on the ground,” he said.

On a more positive note, the operating NPPs’ nuclear safety systems have continued to function as intended, and emergency power supplies remain fully available. The IAEA teams based at Ukraine’s nuclear sites continue to monitor conditions closely and maintain communication with operators.

As part of the IAEA’s ongoing efforts to help prevent a nuclear accident during the conflict, an IAEA team is this month visiting more than 10 electrical substations, following recent attacks targeting key energy infrastructure. The 1-12 December mission is assessing the damage, reviewing repair efforts, and identifying practical steps to strengthen the resilience of off-site power supplies to the country’s NPPs. 

At the ZNPP on 5 December, the IAEA team observed an EDG test. At the full-load stage during the test, a smoke cloud and flames of up to a few metres high were suddenly seen shooting up from the EDG building’s exhaust chimney. The flames subsided after one-two minutes. The IAEA team was informed that the fire was caused by the ignition of accumulated soot in the exhaust system, that had been piled up during its prolonged operation during the October-November loss of off-site power event. After test completion, the team was informed by the ZNPP that it had been successful and that the EDG was put back to standby mode. The IAEA team later visited the EDG building and did not notice any issues with respect to nuclear safety. 

As part of the IAEA’s comprehensive programme of assistance, the physical protection department of Ukraine’s Central Enterprise for Radioactive Waste Management received four all-terrain vehicles. The delivery was funded by the United Kingdom. 

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Viet Nam has taken important actions towards adding nuclear power to its energy mix, including in developing the necessary infrastructure for a safe and sustainable nuclear power programme, according to an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) review mission.

An IAEA team of experts yesterday concluded an 11-day mission to Viet Nam to review its infrastructure development for the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project, which had been stopped in 2016. In 2024, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam decided to restart the project and the National Assembly of Viet Nam authorized the Government to allocate the necessary resources for its implementation.

The establishment of nuclear power is an objective of the Revised National Power Development Plan for the period 2021-2030, which considers nuclear power as key for diversifying the national energy mix and strengthening energy security amidst Viet Nam’s steadily rising energy demand and economic growth in recent years.  The plan envisages the commissioning of two nuclear power plants, Ninh Thuan 1 and Ninh Thuan 2, during the 2030–2035 period, with a total capacity of 4,000–6,400 MW.

The Phase 2 Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) was carried out from 1 to 11 December 2025, at the invitation of the Government of Viet Nam and hosted by the Ministry of Science and Technology. The team reviewed the status of 19 nuclear infrastructure issues using the IAEA evaluation methodology for Phase 2 of the Milestones Approach, which evaluates the readiness of a country to invite bids or negotiate a contract for the first nuclear power plant. The team comprised of three experts from Brazil, Bulgaria and United Kingdom, as well as seven IAEA staff. 

The team identified good practices in government-enabling mechanisms for financing and procurement, as well as in leveraging existing expertise in environmental monitoring for nuclear projects, which could benefit other countries developing nuclear power.

“Viet Nam shows strong government commitment to reviving its nuclear power programme,” said mission team leader Eric Mathet, Operational Lead of the IAEA Nuclear Infrastructure Development Section. “The country is lying the groundwork for project delivery and is mobilising resources. The INIR mission will support the development of a comprehensive action plan for infrastructure development.” 

The team also made recommendations and suggestions aimed at assisting Viet Nam in making further progress in the development of its nuclear infrastructure and its readiness to build the first nuclear power plant in the country. 

The team also highlighted areas where further actions would benefit Viet Nam, including strengthening the legal and regulatory framework for the nuclear power programme, implementing plans to reinforce its human resource capacities across all areas, completing the preparatory work required for the contracting and construction stages, consolidating national strategies for the nuclear fuel cycle and radioactive waste management, and increasing the effectiveness of coordination mechanisms among all stakeholders.

“The valuable and timely support of the IAEA is highly appreciated as well as the experience and companionship of experts which are of special importance to Vietnam in the process of completing the nuclear power infrastructure according to international standards and IAEA guidelines,” said Deputy Minister of Science and Technology of Vietnam Le Xuan Dinh

The preliminary draft INIR report was delivered during the closing session of the mission by Aline Des Cloizeaux, Director, IAEA Division of Nuclear Power.

“The team concluded that Viet Nam has taken major steps to restart and accelerate the implementation of the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project and the development of the required infrastructure. In 2025, Viet Nam enacted a new Atomic Energy Law and adopted special mechanisms to facilitate financial and contractual arrangements for the nuclear power plants.” she said during the presentation of the report in Hanoi.

Based on the outcomes of the INIR mission, the IAEA and Viet Nam will update their Integrated Workplan to continue providing coordinated support in line with the future development of the country’s nuclear power programme.

Viet Nam has already hosted INIR missions in the past, in 2009, 2012 and 2014. 

About INIR Missions

INIR missions are based on the IAEA Milestones Approach, with its 19 infrastructure issues, three phases (consider, prepare and construct) and three milestones (decide, contract and commission/operate). INIR missions enable IAEA Member State representatives to have in-depth discussions with international experts about experiences and best practices in different countries.

In developing its recommendations, the INIR team considers the comments made by the relevant national organizations. Implementation of any of the team’s recommendations and suggestions is at the discretion of the Member State requesting the mission. The results of the INIR mission are expected to help the Member State develop an action plan to fill any gaps, which in turn will help the development of the national nuclear infrastructure.

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –