During its representation on the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Ukraine will work to expand the Agency’s powers. This was stated by Minister of Energy of Ukraine German Galushchenko on the air of the national telethon.

The Energy Minister recalled that at the last IAEA General Conference Ukraine was elected to the Agency’s Board of Governors.

“This is a powerful platform that will allow us to speed up the de-occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, where the situation is getting worse. Time is playing against nuclear and radiation safety and we need solutions,” he said.

German Galushchenko stressed that the IAEA currently had limited powers and was performing a technical function.

“It is obvious that these powers are not enough today. russia has destroyed all agreements on the development of nuclear energy. The IAEA should be given additional levers beyond technical expertise. We want to increase the organisation’s influence through Ukraine’s participation in the Board of Governors,” the Minister said.

German Galushchenko added that the IAEA’s Statute provided for the possibility of holding regular and extraordinary meetings of the Board of Governors.

In the event of enemy shelling that affects the operation of nuclear power generation, Ukraine’s participation in the Board of Governors makes it possible to initiate meetings and discussions on the problem at the level of major world powers.