Appears surrounded by bureaucrats and world leaders Rafael Mariano GrossCEO International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and monopolizes attention. Grossi (Buenos Aires, 1961) is in Rome to attend an international summit and it’s time to interview him. reason Ukraine and his extremely complex business in this warring country: avoiding a nuclear disaster with troubling consequences For humanity at Ukraine’s Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, captured by Russian troops in March and the target of repeated attacks in which Russia and Ukraine blame each other. In this interview with EL PERIÓDICO of the Iberian press, he says his next task against time is to persuade the two countries that had already agreed in August that an IAEA mission should stay at the factory, to create a safety zone around the factory. group.
Russia has once again warned of the “enormous” nuclear risk posed by the conflict in Ukraine. How real is this danger today?
The danger is real once we have a nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, with six reactors, six gigawatts of nuclear power, and tens of thousands of kilograms of uranium and plutonium stored there. It is unbelievable that this facility is under attack, that it is regularly bombed. There are two dangers. On the one hand, the possibility of a direct attack damaging the reactor or the nuclear fuel contained therein. And no less dangerous is the possibility of damage to the high-voltage power lines that feed the power plant.
What could it be?
High-voltage lines are also used for all operating systems, including the basic cooling of reactors. The reactors operate at temperatures in the hundreds of degrees, and if they lose this cooling capacity, the reactors’ cores could melt, leading to the 2011 nuclear accident in Fukushima and elsewhere. The risks are therefore multiple, real, daily and present today. Hence my proposal to create a protection zone.
But he hasn’t succeeded yet. How is this offer progressing? Are you in contact with the Russian and Ukrainian authorities?
Continually. There are very important differences between Russians and Ukrainians. They are at war. This is why there is so little room for deals. But there are two things they agree on. The first is the fact that, at least in principle, reactors must be protected. Second, they say they trust the IAEA. So I am not naive, but I am optimistic and I believe the process is progressing.
And then what are the barriers to reaching an agreement?
There are several barriers of a technical nature to permissible activities and what the commitments of both parties will be. However, I can’t go into too much detail as our talks are still ongoing.
Is it possible to reach an agreement before the end of the year?
I’m trying very hard. I think it’s possible.
The Zaporizhia power station was attacked again days ago. Is it true that a building containing nuclear materials is also damaged?
Yes that is right. This tells us that the risk is real, that we are not exaggerating, that the damage occurs regularly, almost daily. The attacked building is a building filled with fresh nuclear fuel from stored material, and its roof was hit by artillery shells which would have released radioactivity if they got inside and significantly polluted the environment.
After the attacks, Russia blames Ukraine and Ukraine blames Russia. How do you manage these cross-charges?
We collect information, do our analysis, avoid being dragged into the field of prosecution. What I am trying to do is not deviate from my purpose, that is, to get both of them to agree that the plant should be protected. What good does it do me to blame one or the other?
Are you also worried about other factories in Ukraine?
Yes, they worry me. And now we are deploying technical teams in Rivne, Khmelnytskyi and in southern Ukraine, where there are three more nuclear reactor sites. There is also a mission in Chernobyl.
How many and who are the inspectors?
I can’t and shouldn’t say who they are because they’re nuclear inspectors and that puts their safety at risk. There are a few inspectors returning, there are many. Normally it’s three or four weeks and then it’s evacuated and new crews arrive. As we said, there are conflicting narratives and most of them are not true, so their main job is to clarify the facts and help technicians make the best decisions.
Meeting with the President of Russia Vladimir Putin. What did you ask?
First of all, I was the one who wanted to meet with him to advocate the establishment of a conservation zone. [de seguridad nuclear en la central de Zaporiyia]. The positive side of that meeting was that Putin said yes, was ready to protect the plant and trusted the IAEA. same president [de Ucrania, Volodímir] Zelensky.
Let’s change the landscape. What about the nuclear program? Iranian?
The situation in Iran remains complex. Iran is increasing its enriched uranium production capacity and has yet to answer some of our questions about nuclear material where it shouldn’t be. I am hopeful that we can bring relations with Iran back to the level they should be.
Interested in other less talked about situations?
I have many concerns but we are working on them all. Nuclear nonproliferation work is global all over the world and therefore we have a wide range of activities.