Ensuring the safety of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) remains a primary concern, according to Joshua Voltz, the U.S. special envoy for energy integration. His remarks came during a visit by senior officials from the U.S. Department of Energy to Kyiv, where he addressed questions regarding the future of the facility.
Voltz stated that the secure operation of the plant is a top priority for both the United States and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He noted, “From our perspective, as well as from the IAEA’s standpoint, the safety of this facility is paramount. It is the largest nuclear power station in Europe, and its role in the broader energy architecture of Europe is extremely significant.”
He emphasized that discussions about the management and future status of the ZNPP can only take place once safety is assured. “First and foremost, it must be safe before we can talk about who controls it, how it is managed, or what its future status will be. I believe that once we achieve this, we can begin more substantive discussions about the role of the Zaporizhzhia NPP in the future energy system,” Voltz added.
While negotiations to end the ongoing war continue, Voltz refrained from commenting on their specifics, as he is not directly involved. However, he highlighted the critical importance of the ZNPP within Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, stating it plays a key role in any potential agreement between Russia and Ukraine regarding the cessation of hostilities.
Previously, President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated that the status of the Zaporizhzhia NPP is one of two unresolved issues in the peace negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.
In April, the IAEA reported that the ZNPP had lost all external power supply for the thirteenth time since the onset of the Russian occupation, following the disconnection of the last external power line. Subsequently, Energoatom, the Ukrainian state-owned enterprise, announced the restoration of the connection to Ukraine’s energy grid, although the plant experienced another power loss shortly thereafter.
Since 2022, all six reactors at the ZNPP have been in a state of cold shutdown. The IAEA maintains a continuous presence at the facility to monitor safety amid ongoing military actions.
Russian forces captured the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, which houses six reactors, in the early weeks of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The plant is not generating electricity, and both Ukraine and Russia routinely accuse each other of military actions that threaten nuclear safety.
The U.S. emphasizes the importance of safety at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which remains a critical issue amid ongoing conflict. Discussions on its management and future can only proceed once safety is ensured, according to U.S. officials.