All seven pillars of nuclear safety were violated at the Russian-controlled Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, - IAEA head

“The situation at the Zaporozhye NPP remains unstable. All seven pillars of nuclear safety have been completely or partially compromised,” International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi said at a session of the Board of Governors.

According to the IAEA Director General, the reliability of supply chains, as well as emergency response measures at the plant, remain a challenge and pose a threat to nuclear safety and security of the facility.

Grossi laid out the seven pillars of nuclear safety and security back in 2022:

1. The physical integrity of facilities, whether reactors, fuel pools, or radioactive waste storage facilities, must be maintained.
2. All safety, security and related equipment must be fully operational at all times.
3. Operations personnel must be able to perform their safety and security responsibilities and be able to make decisions without undue pressure.
4. All nuclear facilities must be provided with reliable external power supply from the electrical grid.
5. Uninterrupted logistics supply chains to nuclear facilities transportation in both directions must be ensured.
6. Effective on-site and off-site radiation control systems, as well as emergency preparedness and response measures, must be in place.
7. There must be reliable channels of communication with the regulator and other parties.

The Zaporozhye NPP is the largest in Europe.