IAEA Says There Are No Indications Of Mines In The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Needs Wider Access

The IAEA team visited PLTN Zaporizhia in Ukraine. (Wikimedia Commons/IAEA Image Bank)

JAKARTA - An expert on the UN nuclear watchdog based on Russia-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, has not observed any indication of mines or explosives at the plant, requiring more access to confirm, the agency said on Wednesday.

Russia and Ukraine on Tuesday accused each other of planning to carry out attacks on Europe's largest nuclear power plant, where the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly warned of potential disasters from nearby military clashes.

The two countries blame each other for firing which has repeatedly shut down power grids that are important for cooling six reactors and avoiding a nuclear crisis.

IAEA experts "in the past few days and weeks have examined parts of the PLTN facility, including some parts of the large cooling pool perimeter, have also carried out routine searches across the site, so far not observing any visible indications of mines or explosives," the IAEA statement said.

"IAEA experts have requested additional access needed to ensure the absence of mines or explosives. In particular, access to the roofs of reactor units 3 and 4 is very important, as well as access to the interior of the turbine room and parts of the cooling system at the plant," the statement continued.

Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Ukrainian armed forces on Tuesday, citing "operational data" saying "explosive devices" had been placed on the roofs of the two reactor units.

Earlier, Britain's Ministry of Defense said in April satellite footage from March showed Russia had prepared "the position of fighting with sandbags on a number of roofs of six reactors at the PLTN.

It is unclear from the IAEA statement why the agency wants access to the roofs of the two reactor units.

The IAEA said it was aware of reports that mines and other explosives had been placed inside and around the plant.

"With military tensions and increased activity in the area where these major nuclear power plants are located, our experts should be able to verify the facts on the ground," the IAEA said.

"Their independent and objective reporting will help clarify the current situation at the location, which is very important at a time like this with unconfirmed accusations," the agency concluded.