On the sidelines of the 70th IAEA General Conference in Vienna, Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine for European Integration Anatolii Kutsevol, together with other members of the Ukrainian delegation, held a series of bilateral meetings with the Agency’s leadership, representatives of the European Commission and international partners.
The key topics of the discussions included the safety of the Zaporizhzhia NPP and the energy infrastructure on which the operation of nuclear power plants depends, the restoration of the New Safe Confinement at the Chornobyl NPP, preparations of Ukraine’s energy system for winter, and further European integration of Ukraine’s energy and nuclear sectors.
During a meeting between the Ukrainian delegation and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, the parties discussed the situation at the Zaporizhzhia NPP, the restoration of its reliable external power supply, the establishment of safe conditions for repair works, and the continuation of IAEA missions at substations critical to nuclear safety. Rafael Grossi noted that the Agency is already working to engage donors to provide such substations with the necessary electrical equipment.
One of the key topics of the discussions was international support for the restoration of the New Safe Confinement at the Chornobyl NPP. The Ukrainian delegation and the IAEA considered a possible financing schedule for restoration works and mechanisms for mobilising international support.
During meetings with representatives of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy (DG ENER) and Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA), the delegations discussed Ukraine’s integration into the EU internal energy market, the alignment of legislation with the Euratom acquis, and reform of the nuclear sector. The parties agreed to continue consultations on legislative and institutional changes in the nuclear sector.
Another area of the discussions was preparations of Ukraine’s energy system for winter and ensuring the availability of equipment for restoration following attacks. During meetings with representatives of relevant government and nuclear institutions from Sweden, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Australia, whose representative chairs the IAEA Board of Governors, the Ukrainian delegation presented the partners with the current needs of the energy sector and stressed the importance of establishing equipment reserves for rapid restoration.
During the talks, the Ukrainian delegation also shared with partners Ukraine’s practical experience in protecting energy infrastructure and preparing the energy system for crisis situations. The parties discussed how Ukraine’s experience and solutions could contribute to strengthening the resilience of Europe’s energy sector.
“We are grateful to our international partners for their consistent support for Ukraine and tangible assistance to the energy sector. Today, this cooperation works both ways: we receive the necessary support to restore the energy system and maintain the safe operation of our nuclear power plants, while at the same time sharing the experience Ukraine has gained amid constant attacks,” Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine for European Integration Anatolii Kutsevol noted.
