A hazardous situation unfolded at a Thai power facility when a pipe containing a radioactive isotope vanished from National Power Plant 5A in Prachinburi. Officials cautioned that the object posed a severe risk to people nearby, emphasizing the urgent need for information to locate it. The plant administration announced a reward of 50,000 baht, roughly the equivalent of 1,500 USD, for credible tips that would bring the missing pipe to light. The Bangkok Post carried the initial report on this alarming incident, highlighting the potential health dangers linked to such radioactive materials and the attention it drew from local authorities.
Meanwhile, across the region, international attention turned to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, where the IAEA has been closely monitoring events. Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, confirmed that the Zaporizhzhia plant had been completely de-energized for the first time since November 2022, a development that immediately raised questions about safety, control, and continuity of power supply for critical cooling systems. He noted that eight of the plant’s twenty available generators were currently in operation, with the remaining units on standby or shut down as needed for safety and maintenance. Grossi also explained that the IAEA had secured enough diesel fuel to run the active generators for about 15 days, a buffer that could prove decisive in maintaining safety operations during ongoing negotiations and any contingency scenarios.
In a broader assessment, Grossi indicated that discussions surrounding the Zaporizhzhia facility had not reached a dead end. He acknowledged the inherent difficulties in achieving a timely and workable agreement but stressed that efforts should continue. While negotiations faced real obstacles, he expressed cautious optimism that a political and technical settlement could still be achieved, enabling enhanced safety measures and a stable operating framework for the plant and its surrounding region. The IAEA leadership reiterated a commitment to supporting transparent, evidence-based dialogues among all stakeholders, with the aim of protecting public health and ensuring nuclear safety standards are upheld. The updates reflect ongoing concerns about safe operations, fuel security, and the role of international oversight in complex scenarios like Zaporizhzhia and the broader regional energy landscape.