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Abdul Moiz Khan

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has again highlighted the importance of nuclear power plant security. Since the start of the war, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been under threat and, recently, amid Ukraine’s incursions into Russia, attacks close to the Kursk nuclear power plant have also raised safety fears.
This week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the United Nations that Russia was planning attacks on his country’s nuclear power plants, warning of a possible “nuclear disaster”.
These concerns highlight the vulnerability of nuclear installations to conventional attacks, especially in a broader conflict.
In this context, the non-attack agreement between India and Pakistan – in which they pledged not to attack each other’s nuclear installations or facilities – can serve as a template of responsible behaviour. It could help reduce the chances of a nuclear accident during a conflict.
The war in Ukraine marks the first time conflict has occurred in an area housing a major nuclear programme. Shortly after Russian forces invaded Ukraine, they captured the entire area around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and the Zaporizhzhia plant. Russia returned control of the Chernobyl plant to Ukraine after about a month.
Unlike Chernobyl, however, Zaporizhzhia was an operational plant when it was captured. It is Europe’s largest nuclear plant with six pressurised light water nuclear reactors. With a generation capacity of 5,700 megawatts, the plant was the source of 30 per cent of Ukrainian electricity needs.
The facility is now at risk because of the constant shelling and firing nearby. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that there have been at least three attacks against it since April 7. Any release of deadly radiation into the atmosphere could lead to catastrophe.

The Kursk plant is similarly vulnerable. On a recent visit to the plant late last month, IAEA director general Rafael Grossi said military action happening just a few kilometres away from the plant was “an extremely serious fact”, especially as the design of the Kursk nuclear reactors lacks a protective layer covering the core of the reactor that is commonly found in other types of reactors worldwide. This makes the Kursk reactors “extremely exposed and fragile” to “artillery impact or a drone or a missile”, he said.
The IAEA plays an important role in safeguarding nuclear sites. It has identified seven pillars for ensuring nuclear safety. These include maintaining the physical integrity of reactors, fuel ponds and radioactive waste stores, and having on-site and off-site radiation monitoring systems.
Further, since the start of Ukraine war, the IAEA has also enacted five concrete principles for the protection of the Zaporizhzhia plant. These include non-attack on the plant, a prohibition on storing any kind of ammunition at the site, making off-site power always available, and banning use of the plant for harbouring military personnel.
While laudable, however, the efforts of the IAEA alone aren’t enough to protect these facilities. We need new norms and agreements to ensure the safety and security of nuclear installations.

Here, the Pakistan-India non-attack agreement can serve as a guiding principle for other states to follow at both the bilateral and multilateral levels. The accord was signed between Islamabad and New Delhi in 1988 and came into force in 1991. It has survived for more than 30 years and has endured many small and major crises during that time.
Under the agreement, the two countries pledged to “refrain from undertaking, encouraging, or participating in actions aimed at causing destruction or damage to nuclear installations or facilities in each country”. As part of its verification measures, on January 1 every year, each country shares a list detailing the location of all of its nuclear facilities with the other side.
The bilateral agreement serves as an important example that can be followed for mitigating security risks to nuclear plants in conflict zones. Currently, more than 30 countries around the world operate nuclear power plants, with others planning to join the club.
In this situation, it is important to look towards the norms and treaties that can help in addressing the potential security risks, including the threat of attack on plants during an active conflict. The India-Pakistan agreement is a time-tested template that can be emulated by other countries to ensure the safety of nuclear installations.


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The Kursk nuclear power plant is seen from the town of Kurchatov in the Kursk region, Russia, on August 27. Photo: Reuters

IAEA director general Rafael Grossi (right) visits the Kursk nuclear power plant in Kurchatov, Russia, on August 27. Photo: EPA-EFE / Rosatom handout 

An image taken from a video shows damage to the cooling system of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, during a tour by IAEA director general Rafael Grossi, in Enerhodar, Russia, on September 4. Photo: EPA-EFE / Russian defence ministry press service handout

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Opinion

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Asia

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The Ukraine war has exposed the vulnerability of civilian nuclear facilities when war erupts. Could a no-attack agreement plug the security gap?


Energy

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War and conflict

Ukraine

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Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


World must agree nuclear plants are off limits even in wartime

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The Ukraine war has exposed the vulnerability of civilian nuclear facilities when war erupts. Could a no-attack agreement plug the security gap?

The Ukraine war has exposed the vulnerability of civilian nuclear facilities when war erupts. Could a no-attack agreement plug the security gap?