Russia ready to cooperate with IAEA in provision of Zaporizhzhya NPP security - Rosatom head

VLADIVOSTOK. Sept 7 (Interfax) - Russia is ready to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the provision of the security of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, and permanent work of the IAEA mission at that site is important, head of the Russian Rosatom state nuclear energy corporation Alexei Likhachev told Interfax on Wednesday.

"The answer to this question is definitely yes. We are ready," Likhachev said on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok in response to a question whether Russia was ready to cooperate with the IAEA in the provision of the Zaporizhzhya NPP security.

"We will do everything we can to ensure safe operation of the power plant exclusively in contact with the IAEA. That's for starters. Secondly, I would like to reaffirm the significance of this mission. Its permanent continuation at the site is of paramount importance," Likhachev said.

"I'd like to note that the IAEA employees, from the director general to drivers, have demonstrated huge personal courage in the course of this mission. Thirdly, we should clearly think not just in today's categories but also in prospective categories and consider every issue related to the Zaporizhzhya NPP operation in a systemic manner," he said.

The Zaporizhzhya NPP is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. It operates six VVER-1000 power units, the first of which was put into operation in December 1984 and the sixth in October 1995.

The Russian army has been in control of the Zaporizhzhya NPP since February 28, 2022.