Likhachev: Rosatom is ready to meet with the IAEA on the Zaporozhye NPP

“Rosatom» is waiting for the arrival in Russia of the Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi and counts on the further development of contacts on the Zaporizhzhya NPP after his speech at the UN Security Council. This was told to journalists by the CEO of the state corporation Alexei Likhachev on the sidelines of the Eurasian Congress.

“We are determined to continue contacts with the IAEA. Firstly, all the agreements that we have with the IAEA are being implemented… Secondly, we continue to assess the role of the mission at the Zaporozhye station as extremely important, and the presence as extremely timely and relevant,” he said.

Likhachev explained that the presence of IAEA inspectors at ZNPP, on the one hand, will allow the transfer of objective information about the facility, since the experts are in contact with the personnel, and on the other hand, it serves as a kind of additional protection against attacks on the plant.

“We are always glad to see Mr. Grossi both in Russia and at the Zaporizhia station, and we hope that after his speech at the UN rostrum, these contacts will develop… We are definitely waiting for Grossi, he will definitely come,” the Rosatom Director General noted.

Likhachev also noted that first Grossi would probably visit Ukraine to clarify Kyiv’s attitude to the principles of ensuring the security of the ZNPP, which he voiced at the UN Security Council.

Formerly Advisor to the General Director of Rosenergoatom Renat Karchaa reportedthat the number of IAEA inspectors at ZNPP will be increased several times. Grossi himself spoke about the intention to strengthen the presence of the agency at the facility.

At a meeting of the UN Security Council at the end of May, Grossi presented the basic principles for ensuring security at the station. Thus, the ZNPP should not be attacked and used to deploy heavy weapons, its uninterrupted external power supply should be ensured, all structures and systems of the ZNPP should be protected from encroachment or acts of sabotage.

ZNPP has been under Russian control since the end of February 2022. Since then, the Russian side has reported that the plant and the city of Energodar, where it is located, are subject to regular shelling from Ukraine. In early September last year, an IAEA mission arrived at ZNPP. The organization called for an end to the attacks on the station and the establishment of a safe zone around it.