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Posted 13 Aug 2024

2 min read

A fire broke out at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant which Russia characterized as an act of nuclear terrorism

  • Zaporizhzhia, the largest nuclear plant in Europe, is located in southeast Ukraine on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River. It is currently under the control of Russia.

Nuclear Terrorism

  • It is unauthorized use or threat to use nuclear explosive devices, nuclear materials, nuclear fuel, radioactive products or waste, nuclear facilities and installations for endangering lives, property and environment. 
  • It is a transnational threat and can take at least four forms
    • Detonation of intact nuclear weapon,
    • Theft or purchase of fissile material leading to detonation of improvised nuclear device,
    • Unauthorized acquisition of radiation-dispersal device or “dirty bomb”, and
    • Sabotage of nuclear facilities and release of radioactivity.

International regulations for Nuclear Security

  • UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy calls upon Member States to Combat smuggling of radiological and nuclear materials.
  • International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) which criminalizes unlawful possession of radioactive material. 
  • IAEA’s (International Atomic Energy Agency) Seven pillars for nuclear safety and security during conflict.
  • Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) establishes legal obligation for parties. 

India’s approach to Nuclear Safety

  • Governance Framework: Atomic Energy Act 1962 and Weapons of Mass Destruction Act (2005).
  • Institutions: Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) focusing on security of civilian facilities.
  • Nuclear Security Practice & Culture: National Design Basis Threat Document (NDB) and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) etc.
  • Technology: Closed fuel cycle with ‘reprocess to reuse’ of plutonium.
  • International cooperation: Party to all 13 anti-terrorism conventions including CPPNM and ICSANT.
  • Tags :
  • Nuclear Security
  • Nuclear Terrorism
  • Attack on nuclear plants
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