The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was informed that the United Arab Emirates restored external power to Unit 3 of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant on Monday after the attack, which caused a fire in an electrical generator near the Emirates’ only nuclear plant.
The Director General of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, celebrated the restoration of the external electricity supply “as an important step for nuclear securitymeaning the reactor no longer needs emergency diesel generators for power,” the UN agency tweeted.
Never a goal
The event occurred in the context of the current crisis in the Middle East, which erupted in late February following attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran, and Tehran carrying out counterattacks in several Gulf countries and the region in general.
According to media reports, the plant can cover a quarter of the UAE’s energy needs.
Mr. Grossi reiterated that “Nuclear sites and other facilities important to nuclear security should never be targeted by military activities..”
stop the fight
Prior to this, UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a statement saying he was deeply alarmed by reports of drone attacks.
The Secretary General recalled that he has always warned against any new escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, “and this incident provides one more reason for all parties to stop the fighting completely,” he said.
“There must be no more attacks near civilian infrastructure, including nuclear power plants,” he stressed, adding that “attacks on nuclear facilities are totally unacceptable, a violation of international law and must be condemned.”