Both IAEA, Russia understand ZNPP shouldn't be restarted for now - Grossi

PARIS. June 9 (Interfax) - The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Russia share the view that it is not the right time now to consider resuming the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant's (ZNPP) operations, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said.

"At least, as I say, so far there is the common view that in the current circumstances restart is not advisable and perhaps should be avoided," Grossi said at a press conference in Vienna, when asked about outcomes of his negotiations with Alexei Likhachev, CEO of Russia's state atomic energy agency Rosatom, in Kaliningrad last week.

"We know that they [Russia] have the intention to restart it at some point," Grossi said. However, certain circumstances do not allow for that at the moment, including the military situation and some technical aspects, he said.

Grossi admitted that Moscow "didn't make a pledge" not to restart the ZNPP.

"They didn't make a pledge, if you put it in those terms. But I think there is an agreement between them and us that in the current circumstances you cannot start any nuclear power plant or that nuclear power plant in particular," he said.

Grossi said that he plans to again visit the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), but not in the near term.

"Not the nearest time, but I will return for sure," Grossi said at a press conference in Vienna when asked whether he plans to again visit the Zaporozhye NPP.

Grossi said that he wanted to visit the Zaporozhye NPP during his trip last week, but "there were other factors that made me reconsider and just concentrate on the technical conversations in Kaliningrad and in Kiev."

Grossi visited Russia and Ukraine last week as part of his regular contacts with both sides.

He met with Rosatom CEO Alexei Likhachev in Kaliningrad on June 6. According to Grossi, this meeting allowed them to hold an in-depth exchange of views on the situation at the Zaporozhye NPP.