IAEA's Rafael Grossi says security zone around Zaporizhzhia plant is 'top priority'

Rafael Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, will push hard to establish a protection zone around the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine when he meets officials in Kyiv and Moscow this week.

There is “lots going on” in the seized facility, the largest of its kind in Europe, he told delegates at the Energy Intelligence Forum in London on Wednesday.

Speaking on a phone call while he travelled by train, Mr Grossi said the six reactors at Zaporizhzhia remain powered down and described the situation at the site as “extremely precarious”.

The IAEA will not assume the position of judge, he said and added that the establishment of a security and safety perimeter around the nuclear plant would be at the top of his agenda in talks with Ukrainian and Russian officials.

“That is the priority,” he said. “It’s the reason behind my trip.

“The situation regarding external power continues to be extremely precarious.

“We do have at the moment external power but it is fragile. There is one line feeding the plant at the moment which allows it to operate but we are still tantalisingly close to bigger generators.”

Russian soldiers took control of the plant in early March after invading Ukraine and they continue to detain workers at the site.

Mr Grossi said those forced to work at the facility are “heroic” and are carrying out their duties “very professionally”.

IAEA experts are in Zaporizhzhia “reporting daily on the situation” and have relayed the continuous falling of shells close to the site.

Pressed on whether the IAEA’s potential erection of a security zone around Zaporizhzhia would effectively sanction Russia’s theft of the site, Mr Grossi said he had a “clear mission” to “ensure the safety and security of this plant”.

He said that, without such a protection zone, there is no political commitment by any power “to exercise restraint” other than international law, which prohibits attacking nuclear plants.

Asked if he would broach the subject of President Vladimir Putin’s threat to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine when he arrives in Moscow, Mr Grossi said he would bring up “every relevant” issue.

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Pakistan: Sarfaraz Ahmed (c), Babar Azam (vc), Abid Ali, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Hasnain, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz

Sri Lanka: Lahiru Thirimanne (c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Avishka Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Minod Bhanuka, Angelo Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara

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The flights

Air France offer flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Cayenne, connecting in Paris from Dh7,300.

The tour

Cox & Kings (coxandkings.com) has a 14-night Hidden Guianas tour of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. It includes accommodation, domestic flights, transfers, a local tour manager and guided sightseeing. Contact for price.

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French business

France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.

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Getting there

Etihad (Etihad.com), Emirates (emirates.com) and Air France (www.airfrance.com) fly to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport, from Abu Dhabi and Dubai respectively. Return flights cost from around Dh3,785. It takes about 40 minutes to get from Paris to Compiègne by train, with return tickets costing €19. The Glade of the Armistice is 6.6km east of the railway station.

Staying there

On a handsome, tree-lined street near the Chateau’s park, La Parenthèse du Rond Royal (laparenthesedurondroyal.com) offers spacious b&b accommodation with thoughtful design touches. Lots of natural woods, old fashioned travelling trunks as decoration and multi-nozzle showers are part of the look, while there are free bikes for those who want to cycle to the glade. Prices start at €120 a night.

More information: musee-armistice-14-18.fr ; compiegne-tourisme.fr; uk.france.fr

A little about CVRL

Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.

One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.

The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.

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