Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide visited Rivne nuclear power plant in Ukraine

On Friday, Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide visited Rivne nuclear power plant in Ukraine to express Norwegian support for the work on nuclear safety and security.

‘Russia’s attacks on the power grid can jeopardise nuclear safety even when nuclear power plants are not directly affected. International law places a clear responsibility on the parties to avoid disproportionate collateral damage. Any attack that jeopardises nuclear safety in Ukraine and Europe will therefore be unacceptable,’ he said.

Frequent blackouts and an unstable power supply increase the risk of undesirable incidents at the nuclear power plants in operation in Ukraine. Nuclear power plants require a secure power supply from the grid.

‘A secure power supply is essential for Ukraine. Winter is approaching, making the situation even more difficult. The destruction of infrastructure has made Ukraine more dependent on nuclear power to supply the people with electricity,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide. ‘Norway has long cooperated with Ukraine on nuclear safety and security. Under the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine, Norway is providing much-needed funding for efforts to maintain Ukraine’s energy supply and strengthen nuclear security,’ said Mr Eide.

A nuclear incident could have serious impacts across national borders. Norway’s cooperation with Ukraine on nuclear safety and security began after the Chornobyl accident in 1986, which led to radioactive contamination over a large area, including in Norway. Cooperation with Ukraine was expanded after Russia’s illegal annexation of the Crimean Peninsula and destabilisation of eastern Ukraine in 2014.

‘Norway’s cooperation with Ukraine was significantly strengthened in 2022. Norway has helped to enhance nuclear safety and security in Ukraine in a number of areas,’ said Mr Eide.

Norway is supporting efforts to increase the safety and security of nuclear power plants, tighten border controls to prevent the smuggling of nuclear and other radioactive material, strengthen nuclear preparedness and enhance the effectiveness of the Ukrainian nuclear safety authorities. Other important areas of cooperation include control of spent nuclear fuel, radioactive sources and waste, as well as environmental monitoring and the development of legislation. The risk of incidents and radioactive emissions is highest at the nuclear power plants currently in operation in Rivne, Khmelnitsky, and southern Ukraine.

‘The well-established cooperation between Norway and Ukraine on nuclear safety and security enabled us to quickly address urgent needs shortly after the war started. As early as in March 2022, we delivered equipment to the Ukrainian border control authorities and provided necessary spare parts to the Rivne nuclear power plant to ensure safe operation. We have also provided support for cybersecurity measures at the Rivne plant and provided equipment to ensure rapid start-up of the reactors after automatic shutdown due to an unstable power supply,’ said Mr Eide.

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is under Russian control. The reactors have been shut down. However, a secure power supply is crucial in order to cool the reactors and to maintain safety and control systems. Since 2022, the Zaporizhzhia plant has repeatedly needed to use diesel generators due to infrastructure damage causing disruption of the external power supply.

‘We are deeply concerned about the grave situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. IAEA is playing an important role in Ukraine as the only international actor on site at all of the nuclear power plants, including Zaporizhzhia. Norway supports the IAEA’s efforts in Ukraine, and we are extending the agreement on funding for this work into 2025. Norway is the largest contributor to the international fund that will be supporting clean-up efforts at Chornobyl in the wake of the destruction caused by Russian forces. The fund will also support measures at other nuclear power plants in Ukraine. Norway participates actively in the international efforts to promote nuclear safety and security in Ukraine. Key partners include the EU, the US, the UK and other Nordic countries,’ said Mr Eide.

In June 2024, the Norwegian Government presented a white paper on international cooperation on nuclear safety and security in a changed Europe. The white paper outlines what Norway has achieved through its nuclear safety cooperation since 2010, when the last white paper was published. Norway’s Nuclear Action Plan has guided Norwegian efforts in this area since the 1990s. Until 2022, most of Norway’s nuclear safety and security cooperation was targeted towards Northwest Russia. Norway has provided close to NOK 2.5 billion for activities under the Nuclear Action Plan. The new white paper redefines the priorities of Norway’s nuclear cooperation in the current security landscape and sets out guidelines for efforts moving forward.

‘Our efforts will now primarily be focused on Ukraine. We will draw up a new action plan for further cooperation in this area based on the new white paper. Our main objectives are to reduce the risk of accidents and incidents that can lead to radioactive contamination, and to prevent nuclear and other radioactive material from falling into the wrong hands,’ said Mr Eide.

Director General Per Strand of the Norwegian Radiation and Safety Authority (DSA) also participated in the visit to Ukraine on Friday. DSA administers the funding allocated to nuclear safety and security under the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine and under the Nuclear Action Plan. DSA has worked closely with Ukraine’s nuclear safety authority as well as other authorities and actors in the country for more than ten years.

‘We are very concerned that Ukraine could end up in a situation where safety and security considerations become secondary to the need for electricity and to maintain operation of the functioning nuclear power plants. It is therefore important that we also support the efforts of the Ukrainian nuclear safety authorities, which are contending with an extremely complex situation. As a result of the war, their staff has been reduced and it is difficult to carry out the normal inspections and controls. The facilities must be adequately maintained and inspections conducted despite the war. The greatest challenge the authorities are now facing is to secure access to a stable power supply. Russia’s attacks on the power grid pose a direct threat to nuclear safety and security in Europe,’ said Mr Per Strand.