On September 13, 2022, Energoatom hosted a meeting on the outcomes of the International Atomic Energy Agency's mission at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant regarding ways of implementing the IAEA recommendations.
The meeting was attended by President of SE «NNEGC «Energoatom» Petro Kotin, Acting Chairman of State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine Oleh Korikov, Acting Director General of ZNPP Ihor Murashov and other professionals.
«The complete de-occupation of Zaporizhzhya NPP and Enerhodar, the withdrawal of russian military personnel, equipment and weapons, as well as representatives of rosatom from the power plant site is the main prerequisite and the only way to implement the IAEA recommendations, obtained after the visit of the Agency's mission to the Zaporizhzhya NPP, in particular regarding the establishment of a nuclear safety and security protection zone around the ZNPP», Petro Kotin noted.
Likewise, this position was supported by Oleh Korikov, who is convinced that bringing the situation at the Zaporizhzhya NPP back to a normal safety state is possible only under the condition of deoccupation and demilitarization of the plant's industrial site and the town of Enerhodar.
«The safety and security protection zone referred to in the IAEA recommendations is meant exclusively by a de-occupied, demilitarized, safe zone that complies with all the fundamental principles of the IAEA», he added.
The issue of ZNPP employees’ work was discussed separately. Petro Kotin recalled that the power plant staff, who have been working in difficult conditions for more than half a year, are very exhausted, but heroically fulfill their duties.
«The de-occupation of not only the site of the ZNPP but also the town of Enerhodar is also crucial because the power plant's staff, living in the satellite town, must work in normal conditions, rest peacefully after shifts and come to their workplaces in a normal physical and psychological state», Petro Kotin emphasized. And he added that in accordance with one of the IAEA recommendations, appropriate conditions should be created for all power plant employees.
«We are in constant touch with the ZNPP executives and employees, we know and share the position of the power plant Director General regarding the protection and support of its personnel. Currently, the psychological condition of the workers has significantly worsened, and enormous pressure from the russian invaders continues. In fact, the staff is on edge. Normal working conditions should be created for people so that they can perform their duties at the level of safety at which they worked 40 years before the russian invaders came to the ZNPP. The issue of creating a demilitarized zone with the withdrawal of invaders from the NPP site should be immediately addressed», Energoatom CEO stated.
He stressed that despite the fact that the staff is really exhausted and it is very difficult for people, they heroically and with full responsibility perform the duties of maintaining the power units in a safe condition. Energoatom will do everything possible to protect and support its own personnel and their family members.
