Russia is actively constructing a modular pumping station in the temporarily occupied territory to ensure water supply for the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). The main goal of the project is to restore cooling for the halted reactors of the plant, which have been left without stable water supply following the explosion of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station.
This is reported by Finway
Attempt to launch reactors during the war
According to the head of Rosatom, Alexei Likhachev, the new pumping station, with a capacity of up to 80,000 cubic meters of water per hour, is intended to solve the problem of water shortage for cooling the nuclear reactors. He announced a prepared plan for the phased launch of the ZNPP power units, but its implementation is postponed until “military threats are eliminated.” Currently, none of the six power units of the plant are operational: after the destruction of the Kakhovka Reservoir dam, the cooling pond barely meets the minimal needs of the halted reactors, and without guarantees of constant replenishment, a restart is extremely risky.
Ukraine sees political blackmail and a threat of catastrophe
“The plant is not ready for operation, repairs have not been conducted, equipment has not been inspected, and qualified personnel who worked with the modernized Ukrainian systems have been removed from the plant,” emphasized Deputy Minister of Energy Yuriy Sheiko.
The Ukrainian side is convinced that statements about a possible launch of the ZNPP are an element of informational and political pressure. According to Yuriy Sheiko, without proper inspection and preparation, any attempts to launch the power units could lead to catastrophic consequences, as the basic conditions for safe operation are absent. Energoatom also emphasizes: the water balance is disrupted, and the new pumping station does not address the key issue—uncontrolled risks of accidents due to a lack of water for cooling. Furthermore, operating a nuclear power plant during wartime contradicts international nuclear safety standards.