Europe's worn-out nuclear reactors and the IAEA's responsibility
The energy crisis and early persistent cold weather in European countries, along with the speculative role of the United States, that had promised to support Europe in order not to buy Russian oil and gas, has forced European countries to take a risky step by using worn-out nuclear power plants.
NOURNEWS - As a form of new energy, nuclear energy is an important source that is considered as a good alternative to fossil fuels.
Some European countries are pioneers in using this energy and have built many power plants in the past.
But in recent years; Many of these nuclear power plants have been shut down in different countries for various reasons, including wear and tear and the possibility of contamination.
After the peak of the war in Ukraine and the formation of the energy crisis in the world, the issue of activating worn-out nuclear power plants as an emergency solution for energy supply is again on the agenda of European countries.
The energy crisis and early persistent cold weather in European countries, along with the speculative role of the United States, that had promised to support Europe in order not to buy Russian oil and gas, has forced European countries to take a risky step by using worn-out nuclear power plants.
In this regard; French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country has the most nuclear reactors in Europe, ordered power companies like EDF restart nuclear reactors to avoid winter blackouts!
The situation of French nuclear power plants, which are about 56, is not well defined and they are facing a crisis called wear and tear and end of life cycle.
In a dramatic move, state-backed operator EDF, which runs France's nuclear power industry, has said it is working on a plan to restart all but 10 reactors by January.
Without mentioning the timetable for decommissioning nuclear power plants, the company has announced in a thoughtful way: "The Macron government has put EDF under pressure to improve the performance of the nuclear power sector before the onset of cold weather."
Earlier, the German authorities, who are faced with a possible lack of energy in the winter due to the reduction of gas supply from Russia, had also requested that three nuclear power plants in this country shall be taken out of shutdown, ignoring the technical and scientific principles.
This political coercion on technical and scientific limitations has spread to other European countries, such as the UK, so that they also state that the operation of nuclear reactors will continue as a step to reduce the energy crisis in Europe in the winter season.
In continuation of the same trend, which means using reactors with uncertain useful life, Belgium has taken a similar approach. The Belgian government postponed the closure of its nuclear reactors for 10 years!
So far, in the seven active nuclear reactors in Belgium, defects have been seen several times due to worn parts.
Although according to international laws and "NPT" all countries have the right to enjoy peaceful nuclear energy, but the more important principle regarding many nuclear reactors in Europe due to the working age of the built complexes, is the security and environmental safety challenges that it must be taken into account.
A look at the state of reactors and nuclear centers in Europe indicates that the safety issue in many of these centers is facing serious uncertainties and is on the verge of warning.
Ukraine, that emphasizes the use of nuclear energy, is at the forefront of countries facing the crisis of insecurity of nuclear power plants.
In addition to the level of safety and environmental threats of nuclear reactors, France and some European countries are seriously facing strikes and dissatisfaction of the employees of these centers, that increases the risk of underemployment and even internal sabotage in these centers.
At the end of October, the employees of nuclear centers in France went on strike, as a result of which the activity of one third of the active reactors in this country was stopped.
In such a situation, when the alarm of the activation of worn-out nuclear reactors in Europe has sounded, it is necessary for the International Atomic Energy Agency to oversee nuclear activities acts and prevents the possibility of unforeseen events, but unfortunately, instead of focusing on the implementation of its legal and technical duties, the body has become a tool to advance the political goals of the West.
Ignoring this important issue, whose main root is the US strategy to continue the war in Ukraine and freeze Russia and Europe at the same time, can lead to a disaster like Chernobyl, causing irreparable damage to the environment and endangering innocent human lives.
BY: Pooya Mirzaei
NOUNEWS