Russia aims to restart Zaporizhzhia NPP with new pumping station
Photo: Russians building a pumping station to restart the Zaporizhzhia NPP (Getty Images)
Russian forces have begun constructing a floating pumping station to restore the water supply to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. This is a key step toward possibly restarting the plant's reactors, informs Neftegaz.
Alexey Likhachov, General Director of Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom), said the floating modular pumping station will allow Russia to fully resolve water supply issues when bringing the reactors to their designed capacity.
He added that Rosatom has already developed a phased plan to put the Zaporizhzhia plant back into operation. However, the plan can only be implemented if all military threats are fully eliminated, including direct attacks and sabotage.
Russia aims to restart the Zaporizhzhia NPP
The plant once produced one-fifth of Ukraine’s electricity. It has been inactive for more than three years. The last reactor stopped producing power in September 2022, shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion.
Currently, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is under the full control of Russian forces. The situation at the plant remains unclear.
Earlier this week, Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said restarting the plant is impossible due to a lack of stable electricity and cooling water.
After that, Grossi met with Likhachov. Immediately following the meeting, Russia raised the issue of American nuclear fuel stored at the Ukrainian plant.
Furthermore, Likhachov stated that Russia is prepared to return all fuel supplied to Ukraine by the American company Westinghouse to the US.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported on the likelihood of Russia restarting the Zaporizhzhia NPP and the potential consequences.
