On August 16, 2023, President of SE NNEGC Energoatom Petro Kotin met with President and CEO of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) Rumina Velshi.
During the meeting, the parties have discussed Ukrainian-Canadian cooperation in the field of nuclear energy and the situation at the temporarily seized Zaporizhzhia NPP. In particular, Mr. Kotin told Ms. Velshi that the main challenge for the Ukrainian nuclear power generation is the Russian occupation of Zaporizhzhya NPP.
According to him, as long as the invaders are at the plant, there is no appropriate technical supervision and all equipment is degraded.
Petro Kotin also noted that one of the ten points of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Peace Formula is radiation and nuclear safety.
According to this point, Ukrainian nuclear power plants and facilities must operate safely under the full sovereign control of Ukraine; Russian troops must withdraw from Zaporizhzhia NPP, its territory must be demilitarized; Russia must refrain from all forms of nuclear threats, undertake not to use nuclear weapons and not to jeopardize the safety of nuclear facilities.
"We hope that after the de-occupation of ZNPP, Ukrainian personnel will be able to resume the plant's operation. At the same time, we realize the efforts that will be required for this," he said.
In return, Rumina Velshi noted that Canada is ready to contribute to ensuring safety at Zaporizhzhia NPP.
In conclusion, the Energoatom President emphasized that Ukraine continues to strengthen cooperation with Canada in the field of nuclear energy. In particular, with CAMECO on uranium supplies for the safe operation of Ukrainian NPPs and the development of the domestic uranium mining industry.
