“Transferring” The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

The British newspaper The Telegraph claims to have a copy of the US “peace plan” for Ukraine, to be released officially later today. It’s a nonstarter, but I want to talk about one of the points, which may come up in other contexts.

“The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant will be transferred to the US. The US will begin energy cooperation with Russia.” I’m not sure exactly how this is worded in the relevant documents, or if there are relevant documents, since the Trump administration has been negotiating agreements without writing them down.

The Zaoprizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) is the biggest nuclear power plant in Europe. Russia moved early in this latest phase of their war to take it over. The six reactors are now all shut down. There has been shelling at and around the plant, which has damaged auxiliary equipment.

“Transferring the plant to the US” raises many questions, both political and technical. Politically, it seems like a bad move for all involved, but perhaps it is a halfway move toward transferring it to Russian control, which the Russians very much want. I’ll address the technical and regulatory questions.

First, what does “transferring” mean?

• Who will own the plant?
• Who will be responsible to the international regulators?
• Who will be responsible for funding the repairs needed?
• Who will deal with outstanding contracts for powerand future contracts?
• Who will get the income from future power production?

The International Atomic Energy Agency oversees nuclear power plants and their safety. They have actively been involved in assuring the safety of the plant through the war.

• Has the IAEA been consulted on this change?
• What are their recommendations, both regulatory and in terms of plant operation and safety?

Russia currently occupies the plant and has sent experts and perhaps operators to be stationed there.

• Who will staff the plant? I am talking about the operators, maintenance, and other everyday workers. Americans? Ukrainians? Russians?
• How will the handover be done? Will some of the Russians remain? Have they modified the plant? How about the software?

In order to start the plant up again, the reactors and auxiliary equipment will have to be inspected and declared safe. Repairs will have to be made. The most serious issue for restart is that cooling water was drawn from the Kakhovka Reservoir, which no longer exists, since the Nova Kakhovka dam was blown.

• What will be required for adequate cooling of the operating reactors, which is significantly more than for the shut down reactors? Will cooling towers need to be constructed? How long will that take? Who will pay?
• Who owns the spent fuel at the plant?
• Who will do the inspections? How will the IAEA be involved, because they must be?
• What will be the procedure for approval to restart?

Those are the questions that occur to me off the top of my head. I’m sure there are more.