IAEA director says will visit Russia's Kursk NPP on Tuesday

PARIS. Aug 26 (Interfax) - International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi has said he will visit Russia's Kursk Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) on Tuesday.

"Given the serious situation, I'm personally leading tomorrow's IAEA mission to the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant in Russia," Grossi said on his social account on Monday.

The IAEA considers it important to assess the situation independently, Grossi said in a statement.

"It is also important that when the international community needs an independent assessment of the safety and security of a nuclear facility, we will be there. The only way in which the IAEA can validate the information is when we have an opportunity to independently assess what is happening," Grossi said.

He said that, during his visit, he will discuss "modalities for further activities as may be needed to evaluate the nuclear safety and security conditions of the KNPP."

He reiterated that the safety and security of nuclear facilities must not be endangered under any circumstances.