Grossi highlights nuclear safety risks to Zaporozhye NPP at talks in Russia - IAEA

BRUSSELS. March 11 (Interfax) - International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi noted the importance of lowing nuclear safety and security risks to the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant at a recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the IAEA said on Friday.

"As I have repeatedly stated, I must talk to both sides to help reduce the danger of a potentially severe nuclear accident. No one stands to gain from a nuclear disaster, and we must do everything possible to prevent it," the IAEA quoted Grossi as saying.

"This was also my message to President Putin and other senior Russian officials this week," he said.

The nuclear safety and security of the Zaporozhye NPP "remains precarious," the IAEA said.

He described his meeting with Putin as "professional and frank."

The Grossi-Putin meeting took place on March 6. Additionally, Grossi met with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky on his way to the Zaporozhye NPP.

As reported, Putin told Grossi Russia is ready to provide security anywhere it is involved in nuclear energy.

The Zaporozhye NPP, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, operates six VVER-1000 power units with a total capacity of 6 GW. Russian forces took control of the Zaporozhye NPP in late February 2022. Putin designated the power plant, currently managed by Rosatom, as federal property in October 2022.