“The Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZEP) is the largest NPP of our country, the largest in Europe and one of the largest in the world. By 2022, it played a key role in the energy system of Ukraine, providing more than 20% of all electricity in the country and the stability of its power grid. However, with the start of a full -scale war, the station was captured by Russian invaders, which led to catastrophic consequences”, – WRITE ON: ua.news
Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZEP) is the largest NPP of our country, the largest in Europe and one of the largest In the world. By 2022, it played a key role in the energy system of Ukraine, providing more than 20% of all electricity in the country and the stability of its power grid. However, with the beginning of a full -scale war, the station was captured by Russian invaders, which led to catastrophic consequences for both the Ukrainian economy and energy security.
As of today, the NPP does not work, its infrastructure is gradually degrading through the unprofessional management of the occupiers, and in its territory placed Warehouses of weapons and military equipment of the Russian Federation. This poses a constant threat to both Ukraine and the whole of Europe, as any accident at the station can have consequences similar to the Chernobyl disaster, if not worse.
Ukraine, however, faces an important challenge. She needs to continue to make maximum efforts to return control over the Zaporizhzhya NPP. It depends not only on energy stability, but also the national security of the country and the radiation security of the whole of Europe.
What is so important to ZPP? Why is it fundamentally important to return it under the control of Ukraine? Will it be possible? Political observer Nikita Trachuk Together with the expert, the former station employee, he understood the situation.
The Zaporizhzhya NPP construction history
Zaporizhzhya NPP was laid in 1979 in the city of Energodar of Zaporizhzhya region. Actual construction began in 1981. It was an ambitious project, which aimed to provide electricity not only to Central and Eastern Ukraine, but also to the neighboring regions of the Soviet Union of the time.
The first power unit of the station was put into operation in 1984, and by 1995 all six power units were launched. Each of them had a Vver-1000 reactor. Subsequently, it made it possible to provide a capacity of 6000 MW, which made the most powerful nuclear power station in Europe.
“Six GW, or 6000 MW, she began not published in 1995, but before the war, for several years. Because she lacked the lines to publish all her capacity into the network. And then the lines were completed, ”explains UA.News Sergei, a senior engineer in arranging and trials, who has worked for many years at the Zaporizhzhya NPP. “And only when they built the Zaporizhzhya NPP line and the new Kakhovka substation, which is now in the occupied territory, and with this line that contacted the power system, the ZPPs began to produce its maximum capacity. This was not the case. “
After Ukraine gained independence in 1991, the station was subordinated to Energoatom. It continued to work steadily and has regularly modernized in accordance with international security standards. The ZPP remained one of the main energy facilities of Ukraine, providing thousands of workers, and with light and warmth – millions of ordinary Ukrainians.
Unfortunately, all this ended after the full -scale invasion of the Russian Federation on February 24, 2022. On March 4, the station was captured by the Russians. And for the fourth year she has been occupied and does not work.
The role of the NPP in the power system of Ukraine
Prior to the occupation in 2022, Zaporizhzhia NPP produced about 40-42 billion kW/h of electricity per year. This figure was approximately 20-22% of all electricity of Ukraine. Its importance for the power system was huge for several reasons.
The first is a guarantee of energy stability. Nuclear power plants provide stable production of “clean” electricity, regardless of weather or any other conditions. Unlike thermal power plants, which depend on the supply of coal, or hydroelectric power plants, which depend on the water level, it has worked quietly and evenly, ensuring the stability of the entire power system.
Second – reducing dependence on energy imports. Thanks to the work of Zaporizhzhya NPP, Ukraine could reduce gas and coal consumption. By the way, this is especially important in war. In fact, the entire domestic power system is kept at the remaining nuclear stations.
Third – Ensuring Electricity Exports. By 2022, Ukraine exported much of excess electricity to EU countries. We produced more than we needed, so we were able to make money on it. After the loss of control of the NPP, these opportunities have declined significantly, which deprived the country of important income. Everything is the opposite: now we are an energy subsidized country, especially during peak periods, when Ukrenergo is forced to buy additional volumes from neighboring states.
Fourth – reducing the cost of electricity for the population. The loss of Zaporizhzhya NPP has led to an increase in the cost of E/E because of the need to compensate for losses due to thermal and renewable energy sources.
ZPP after 2022: occupation, degradation and threats
In March 2022, Russian troops seized the city of Energodar and Zaporizhzhya NPP. Fighting for the station were accompanied by shelling, which causes fires in its territory. Subsequently, the invaders established complete control over the object and began to put pressure on staff.
Ukrainian experts were forced to work under coercion, many of them were repressed, some were stolen. Because of this, a considerable number of qualified specialists were forced to leave their place of work.
From the moment of occupation, the station gradually degrades. The invaders could not connect it to the Russian power system, despite repeated attempts. Also, Russians are not able to ensure full functioning – even though Rosatom has all the necessary skills and technologies. Currently, all six reactors are in a stop.
The main problems of the station are as follows:
The consequences for Ukraine, if not catastrophic, are at least very serious. In particular, it is a chronic electricity shortage that all Ukrainians experience when switching off light.
The loss of 6000 MW of capacity, along with all other broken stations and substations, has led to a lack of energy in winter and summer periods in Ukraine. This forces the government to introduce fan shutdowns.
Another problem is organically leaking from the previous one: the state has become too dependent on imports. Ukraine It is forced to import electricity from the EU, which increases the financial burden on a belligerent country. Whereas we were an energy -professional state earlier.
In the end, the risk of nuclear catastrophe did not go anywhere. Regular shelling, the presence of the military, the transformation of the station into ammunition (simply nonsense and another indicator of the madness of the Russian Federation), as well as improper service, create the risks of an accident that can become more terrible than the Chornobyl disaster.
The expert’s opinion
In order to understand the situation in more detail, we sought commentary Sergius, Senior Staffing Engineerwhich he gave many years to work at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant. He has not been working on the ZPP for more than three years because of her occupation. The man asked not to name his name. Below is his direct language: a story about the value of the station, analysis of the current situation and forecasts for a possible future.
“The ZPP is a very powerful object. But tAka great power was required for those large the factories we had and which are now broken Or are in the occupied territory. We don’t know now what power is us at all necessary. How many people have we left inI? WITHHow much will remain after the war? What kind of industry will we have after the war? Will we develop energy -intensive industry? Will we restore other stations that are broken And what many? ANDle same we have the concept of energy transitionfrom purely thermal energy for renewable, gas turbines, gas generators, on the same atomKu. That is, no one can say it now. The ZPP was necessary in pre -war Ukraine. But is there direct Critical need now – This is a question.
All years of war, the station does not work, and the blocks were first in the “hot reserve”, and now in “Cold”. Danger to The What can happen. WITHso many lines left the wholewe? WITHAbove them passesIThou free territory, not by occupied? Even if We have returned now station, it is unclear how many blocks in general Aboutand b pto go. I think that at all none. For even if she is returned, we do not They will just give it, they will definitely do some “hut”.
And they have already done. Because some of the electrical equipment for the station is not produced, it is made exclusively in the Russian Federation. This is the reactor and it Steam generators. If something happens to these two objects, So the station will not be able to work. And we will not be able to replace them, because there is nowhere to take. This is the situation. If we give us a ZPP, they will make a passage to it, they will restore some lines – well, if we can start a few blocks, it will be good, ”Sergei explains.
The engineer talks about another important aspect. To cool the blocks requires a special cooler pond. To do this, one of the tasks of the Kakhovka reservoir was to fill such a pond with water. Now the reservoirs no longer exist physically, but the pond is isolated from the Dnieper.
“That is, this problem also needs to be solved. Take water somewhere, stretch it to have enough for the station cooler. So many problems have made katsaps that how it will work, whether it will work at all is unclear. How many blocks … about six blocks, I think, can already be forgotten for a very long time.
And in addition: here all the equipment is worth it. Before running it, everything must be test. Much has failed one hundred percent, it will be necessary to replace. After all, it has been standing for several years and does not work. This was not at all – that the nuclear power plant stood for so long and then restored the work. That is, it is necessary to gather all the staff of the station, and there are few left. Someone works on other objects, there is no one in Ukraine. Do many people want to return? This is all a very non -trivial task, ”Sergei summarized.
The conclusions can be said that the Zaporizhzhia NPP has been and remains important for the power system and security of Ukraine. Its occupation has led to severe economic, energy and even environmental consequences.
Ukraine should use all available facilities to return the station. The IAEA and other international organizations should, on their part, increase pressure on Russia, as the situation at the ZPP is threatened not only for Ukraine but for the whole world.
The Zaporizhzhia NPP is a strategic asset that cannot be given. Its return is one of the key tasks for the Ukrainian state during the peace process. Therefore, it is necessary to raise this issue at any negotiation.
Nikita Trachuk