ST. PEERSBURG. May 25 (Interfax) - The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is completing work on a plan to ensure the security of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, Alexei Likhachev, the head of Russia's Rosatom state corporation, said on the sidelines of the 10th Neva International Environmental Congress.
"We understand that the IAEA [and] its administration represented by its head Rafael Grossi is at the final stage of work on a plan to ensure the security of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant," Likhachev said.
"Essentially, we support the IAEA's actions aimed at ensuring the security of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, we support and trust these actions," he said.
Likhachev said he had conducted talks with IAEA General Director Rafael Grossi in China, where the two sides exchanged their assessments of the events and adjusted joint plans, the head of Rosatom said.
"There is a constant exchange of opinions going on; the IAEA mission is constantly present on the premises of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant," Likhachev said. "We should also thank the Defense Ministry, the Russian National Guard, [and] the Radiation, Chemical and Biological Safety Troops. The security and effective functioning of these missions are being ensured," Likhachev said.
"ZNPP's physical safety is very fragile as of today, it is unstable. But it is ensured, among other things, to a large extent through the IAEA's efforts," Likhachev said
The Zaporozhye NPP, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, operates six VVER-1000 power units. The plant has not produced electricity since September 11, 2022. Five reactors are in cold shutdown, and one is in hot shutdown to meet the plant's needs.
Several IAEA experts have been deployed at the NPP on a rotating basis since September 1, 2022.
IAEA General Director Rafael Grossi on May 22 spoke about "an extremely vulnerable nuclear safety situation at the plant." He said he was conducting intensive talks to reach an agreement on the protection of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, including ensuring accessibility and the security of external power sources.
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