Nuclear experts reject US plan for the re-commissioning of Ukrainian power plants

conversations on the electrical supply of Ukraine

In the context of ongoing talks about a partial ceasefire, US President Donald Trump and the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj discussed the electrical care of Ukraine and nuclear power plants during a phone call on Wednesday, as can be seen from the official communication of the USA. Trump expressed that the United States could be very helpful in the operation of these power plants, thanks to their expertise in electricity supply. Accordingly, US property on these power plants would be the best protection for the infrastructure and support for the Ukrainian energy supply.

Selenskyj's concerns about US property

On Thursday, Selenskyj rejected this presentation and made it clear: "In terms of property, we definitely didn't talk to President Trump about it." He emphasized that "all nuclear power plants belong to the (Ukrainian) state, including the temporarily occupied region of Zaporizhzhia." Previously, Selenskyj had explained that Ukraine was ready to think about American investments to restore and modernize Zaporizhzhia. During a press conference after his conversation with Trump, Selenskyj made it clear that only the occupied Zaporizhzhia power plant was discussed, not the entire Ukrainian nuclear power plant.

restoration of the power plant under crew

"I believe that the station cannot work under crew. I am convinced that the station can be put back into operation again," said Selenskyj, who warned that the process could take two years or more. Before the Russian full scale invasion in 2022, the Zaporizhzhia power plant delivered about 20% of Ukraine energy. With six reactors, it is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. Ukrainian employees continue to work at the power plant under the Russian occupation, whereby they were temporarily forced to "work under threat".

The current situation in the power plant

However, the power plant is separated from the network, and the electrical infrastructure required for secure operation was damaged by drone attacks and frequent artillery fire. In addition, Russia destroyed the nearby Kakhovka dam, which emptied the reservoir, which was used to cool the power plant. All six reactors are switched off and there are concerns about the continuous maintenance of the power plant, while in the area there are still explosions, as a rapporteur of the un-nuclear-energy supervisory teams reported on site.

challenges for American company

When asked how the USA could possibly operate a Ukrainian nuclear power plant, Energy Minister Chris Wright told Fox News that he did not believe that this would require American troops on site. "We certainly have immense technical knowledge in the USA to do these power plants. I don't think soldiers are needed for this," said Wright. "But I leave President Trump and Minister Rubio foreign policy. I know that they work tirelessly to clarify:" How do we bring peace to Ukraine? "

technical and logistical concerns

The responsibility of the USA

"It makes no sense to try to rebuild and operate a power plant if it could be endangered at any time," added Lyman. "And the idea that US property would keep Russia more from attacking the power plant than now, when the Russians control the power plant itself, also makes no sense." The idea of a US company raises many logistical, technical and practical questions that are still unclear, including the question of the United States liability for an accident in the facility. "Responsibility goes hand in hand with property or operator status," says Lyman.

technological differences

nuclear experts have also emphasized that the United States does not have nuclear power plants that use the same technology class as Zaporizhzhia, which is a Soviet "water-water energy reactor" (abbreviated as "VVer" in Russian). "These technologies are different," said Elena Sokova, director of the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non -Driving and added that there are strict license requirements for the operators of the power plant.

The role of Ukraine in restoration

Selenskyj emphasized on Wednesday evening that a safe restoration of the power plant is in the interests of the whole world, and Ukraine should play a role in this, "because it is ours, and this is our country, this is our station." The Ukrainian President said that a return of the power plant without the control of the area in which it is - the city of Enerhodar - is not possible on the Zaporizhzhia region occupied by Russia. "If you simply hand over the station and everything is occupied one meter from the ward or are Russian weapons, nobody will work," warned Selenskyj and expressed concerns that the power plant could be restored with US and Ukrainian investments, only to possibly be damaged or destroyed by Russia later.

outlook for the situation in the Zaporizhzhia power plant

While the fights are going on on the front line, the precarious situation remains "unchanged" in the Zaporizhzhia power plant, wrote Andrian Prokip, director of the energy program at the Ukrainian Institute for the Future href = "https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/ukraines-energy-sector-silience-after-yhree-years-years-full scale-war" target = "_ blank"> last month . "It continues to receive no appropriate maintenance and still serves as a Russian ammunition camp," says Prokip, who is also a senior associate at the Wilson Center.

The reporting was supported by Svitlana Vlasova, Christian Edwards and DJ Judd from CNN.