IAEA: Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant will require ‘special status’ if peace agreement is reached

The temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant will require a “special status” under any future peace agreement, along with a cooperation framework between Ukraine and Russia, International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi said, according to Reuters.

“Regardless of which side of the line it [ZNPP] ends up on, you will need to have a cooperation agreement or at least an atmosphere of cooperation,” Grossi stated.

He warned that until the war ends, “there is always the possibility that something could go very, very wrong”.

“No operator can run a nuclear power plant when, across the river, there is another country opposing you and capable of taking action against you,” Grossi said.

A leaked US-backed 28-point peace proposal includes placing ZNPP’s operations under IAEA supervision, with electricity production to be shared equally between Ukraine and Russia. Grossi declined to comment directly on the suggestion.

“Whether to share it or not, I do not want to go into that because it is political… This is something Ukraine and Russia will decide at some point. But one thing is clear: the IAEA is indispensable in this situation,” he said.

Zaporizhzhia is Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, with six reactors. Russian forces seized the facility on March 4, 2022 during the capture of Enerhodar. Media have repeatedly reported Russia’s attempts to integrate the plant into its own power grid.

The plant is not currently producing electricity but has faced multiple dangerous incidents during the occupation.