Rosatom asks Grossi to mediate its contact with U.S. regarding U.S. nuclear fuel at Zaporozhye NPP - Rosatom head

KALININGRAD. June 6 (Interfax) - Rosatom has asked International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi to mediate its interaction with the United States regarding U.S. fuel at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, Rosatom head Alexei Likhachev said.

"Concerns of the U.S. side represented by the Department of Energy were earlier conveyed to us and the need for coordinating actions was pointed out, firstly, with regard to the protection of U.S. products' copyright. In fact, we have always said that any solution to the fuel problem looks possible to us, from using this fuel to its complete unloading and return to the supplier," Likhachev said after negotiations with Grossi in Kaliningrad.

The issue was discussed at consultations with the IAEA leadership, he said. "I asked Mr. Grossi to mediate the resolution of this problem in collaboration with the U.S. side, both the company and the authorities, the nuclear sector regulator. We are grateful to the IAEA director general for the reciprocal steps, which are positive. I very much hope we will find a solution in collaboration with the fuel manufacturer and will decide its future," Likhachev said.

"There is nothing unknown for us here, we are ready to solve any problem, and we are ready to work with the U.S. side, based on our principle of non-violation of international agreements and the fulfillment of all obligations," he said.