Linus Höller Discusses Nuclear Facility Risks During Armed Conflict for The New Arab

The article, “Which Middle East and North Africa countries have nuclear programmes?”, examines the region's expanding use of nuclear energy and the security challenges posed by military confrontations. Against the backdrop of recent attacks on nuclear-related facilities and growing regional tensions, Höller highlighted both the resilience and vulnerabilities of modern nuclear power plants.

Höller noted that contemporary nuclear facilities are designed with multiple layers of safety systems, including reinforced containment structures and backup power supplies intended to prevent accidents similar to the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. However, he cautioned that these safeguards are not unlimited. Critical systems, particularly those responsible for cooling reactors and spent fuel, remain vulnerable if multiple backup mechanisms fail or are compromised during a sustained attack.

The article also explored the broader implications of military operations near nuclear facilities, drawing attention to recent attacks on nuclear sites in the Middle East and the continuing risks demonstrated by the occupation of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Höller emphasized that while international law provides strong protections for civilian nuclear infrastructure, these protections ultimately depend on the willingness of parties to a conflict to respect them.

His comments underscore a key challenge for nuclear risk reduction: As armed conflicts increasingly involve critical infrastructure, the possibility of military action affecting nuclear facilities remains a significant concern, even when the consequences could extend far beyond the battlefield.