The Russians have not yet granted the IAEA experts, present at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), access to the reactor halls of power units 1, 2 and 6.
The IAEA reported on the situation at the ZNPP
According to IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, the International Atomic Energy Agency's experts at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant have not yet been granted access to the reactor halls of units 1, 2 and 6, which hinders their ability to monitor the situation with regard to nuclear and physical security at the plant, as well as five specific principles established by the UN Security Council.
The Russians claimed that the reactor hall was allegedly "sealed". Instead, they offered the IAEA team access to the area in about a week.
The IAEA recalled that in December 2023, experts were also denied access to the reactor halls of power units 1, 2 and 6, although the mission had previously had access to the reactor hall of any unit that was in a state of "cold shutdown".
These restrictions on timely access of experts to ZNPP impede the IAEA's ability to independently and effectively assess the safety and security status, including to confirm the declared condition of the reactor facilities, spent fuel pools and associated safety equipment," the IAEA said in a statement.
What is known about ZNPP
On 3 January, the IAEA announced that its experts were not allowed to inspect the reactor halls of three of the six power units of the Russian-occupied ZNPP - units 1, 2 and 6.
The agency's statement emphasises that this is the first time that its experts have been denied access to the reactor hall of a power unit in a "cold shutdown", where the reactor core and spent fuel are located. In addition, last week, access to some parts of ZNPP's machinery halls, in particular to the premises of units 3, 4 and 6, was still restricted. In addition, the IAEA experts are still waiting for the previously promised access to the reactor roofs on 19 December 2023, but not yet granted.
It is noted that five of the six ZNPP reactors remain in a "cold shutdown", and the fourth power unit is in a "hot shutdown" to produce steam and heat, in particular for the nearby city of Enerhodar.
