Russia is building a pumping station to restart the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant – experts warn of nuclear threat
Russia has begun construction of a pumping station aimed at restoring the operation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) and ensuring the cooling of reactors that were shut down after the explosion of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant. This initiative by the occupying authorities raises serious concerns among experts due to the potential nuclear danger in the context of war and the lack of proper equipment verification.
This is reported by AgroReview
New pumping station and plans for restarting power units
According to the head of “Rosatom,” Alexey Likhachev, the construction of a floating modular pumping station is already underway in the temporarily occupied Enerhodar. It has a capacity of up to 80,000 cubic meters of water per hour and is designed to address the critical water shortage necessary for cooling the nuclear reactors. After the destruction of the cooling pond that supplied the needs of the plant, it has been threatened with depletion. Likhachev also stated that “Rosatom” has prepared a phased plan for restarting the ZNPP’s power units, but emphasized that its implementation is only possible after the “removal of military threats.”
Risks of restarting the ZNPP and Ukraine’s position
Currently, none of the six power units of the ZNPP are operational. Experts believe that their restart without guarantees of stable cooling is extremely risky, as even the available water in the pond only minimally meets the needs of the shut-down reactors. According to Ukrainian specialists, the continuous replenishment of the reservoir by the pumping station does not solve the key problem – the disrupted water balance due to the destruction of the dam of the Kakhovka Reservoir.
“The station is not ready for operation, repairs have not been conducted, the equipment has not been inspected, and the qualified personnel who worked with the upgraded Ukrainian systems have been removed from the station,” emphasized Yuriy Sheiko, Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine.
Leaders of “Energoatom” stress that even the technical capability of supplying water does not guarantee the safe operation of reactors in wartime conditions, which constitutes a gross violation of international nuclear safety standards. The Ukrainian authorities view statements about the restart of the ZNPP as informational and political pressure and blackmail amid the war and occupation.