Russia may eventually restart the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southeastern Ukraine, which it seized, according to the U.N. nuclear watchdog chief. However, international monitors and Russia agree that it is currently impractical and potentially dangerous to do so.
The International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General met with the director-general of the Russian nuclear energy agency Rosatom to discuss Russia's position on the matter. It was clarified that Russia does not plan to decommission the plant and intends to use it in the future, but acknowledges the current risks involved in restarting operations.
Zaporizhzhia is Europe's largest nuclear plant and one of the world's top 10. Despite its reactors being offline for months, the plant still requires power and qualified staff to maintain crucial cooling systems for the reactors and spent fuel pools.
The plant was seized by Russian forces following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Both Russia and Ukraine have been blaming each other for shelling incidents near the plant since then.
The main obstacles to restarting the nuclear plant are the ongoing military activities in the region and the unstable external power supply. Safety assessments, stable power supply, and the absence of any bombing activities are essential prerequisites for a safe restart.
The IAEA has raised concerns about the plant's safety, particularly after a recent incident where the plant lost connection to its off-site power line, highlighting the precarious nuclear safety situation.
The situation remains delicate, with the need for careful planning and coordination to ensure the safe operation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in the future.
