Ukraine interested in joint control of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant with US - Ukraine's Minister of Energy
Photo: Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant under Russian military control (Getty Images)
If the world allows Russia to maintain control over the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, it could undermine trust in nuclear energy and bring about a new disaster on the scale of Chernobyl. The US and Ukraine are prepared to counter this threat, as stated by Ukraine's Minister of Energy, Herman Halushchenko, during a panel discussion at the Atlantic Council, according to Ukrinform.
During a discussion, the minister was asked about US President Donald Trump's initiative regarding the possibility of joint ownership of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Halushchenko noted that both Ukraine and the US share a common interest in returning the station under Ukrainian management and restoring its operation.
He stated, "It (ZNPP) can bring new opportunities for cooperation between us, for instance, when it comes to electricity exports. Moreover, we will need more electricity for any project that can be implemented in Ukraine, alongside the United States. We need more electricity for large-scale reconstruction, and that is very important."
Unacceptable catastrophic condition
Halushchenko also emphasized the unacceptable condition of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which has been seized by Russian forces.
He called it a catastrophic precedent if the international community allows Russia to retain control of the plant, even without its full operation. He added, "This would jeopardize all the achievements of the civilized world in the peaceful use of nuclear energy."
Regarding nuclear safety, Halushchenko highlighted the dangers posed by Russian shelling of energy infrastructure objects. He stressed the constant threat not only to the shut-down Zaporizhzhia NPP but also to three other nuclear power stations still operating in Ukraine.
He further reminded that since August last year, over 150 incidents were recorded in which Russian rockets or drones flew over or near these stations. He also recalled the Russian drone attack on the Shelter facility at the Chernobyl NPP.
Nuclear accident threat
Halushchenko emphasized Ukraine's ongoing appeals to the IAEA regarding the dangerous, deliberate Russian attacks on substations servicing nuclear energy facilities. He warned that such strikes could cause emergency power outages to operational energy blocks, bringing the risk of a Fukushima-like scenario.
"This is the message we constantly convey in the draft resolutions of the IAEA, and we ask their experts to visit these substations. Because when we have an emergency shutdown of an operating reactor, there's only one step left to an accident similar to Fukushima, just one step to a nuclear incident. Such actions are contrary to any nuclear safety standards," said Halushchenko.
Zaporizhzhia NPP situation
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant consists of six VVER-1000 V-320 reactors and a spent nuclear fuel storage facility. Russian forces captured the station on March 4, 2022, following their occupation of the city of Enerhodar. Subsequently, they mined auxiliary rooms and stationed military equipment there.
Afterwards, all reactor units were placed in a "cold shutdown" state. Throughout the three years of war, the plant has repeatedly lost power for internal needs due to damage to power lines from Russian shelling.
Energoatom reported that the current technical condition of the Zaporizhzhia NPP prevents its reactivation.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump, in discussions with President Zelenskyy, showed interest in the Zaporizhzhia NPP and the potential involvement in its restoration and modernization. The US could also assist in managing Ukrainian nuclear power plants after the war ends.
