IAEA director welcomes Russia's readiness to increase IAEA presence at Zaporozhye NPP

BRUSSELS. June 5 (Interfax) - International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi on Monday welcomed Russia's wish to see a bigger presence of the agency's specialists at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (NPP).

"We welcome the comments that Russia, which is in effective control of the [Zaporozhye nuclear power] station, will be accumulating our bigger presence," he told a press conference.

"Topically, we have four people. We might have a little bit more. That will depend on the type of work that we need to carry out," he said.

Rosatom CEO Alexei Likhachev told reporters in early June that the Russian side expected an expanded mission of the IAEA to arrive at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, and praised the work of its participants. Grossi later said at the UN Security Council that he intended to pay his third visit to the Zaporozhye NPP in the near future.

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 specialists have been on duty at the NPP since September 1, 2022. They rotate approximately once a month.