Nuclear experts pour cold water on US idea to restore and run Ukrainian power plant

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🗞️ Driving the news: US suggestions of taking ownership and operational control of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant have been met with scepticism from nuclear experts and rebuffed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
• While Trump’s administration views US involvement as a means to protect and restore the plant, experts warn the plan is unrealistic and legally ambiguous

🔭 The context: The Zaporizhzhia plant, once providing 20% of Ukraine’s energy, has been under Russian control since 2022 and remains shut down amid ongoing conflict
• US Energy Secretary Chris Wright claimed American expertise could safely manage the plant, but Zelensky clarified there was no agreement on ownership—only potential for US investment

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: A damaged and vulnerable nuclear facility in a war zone presents significant environmental and safety risks, including potential radioactive leaks
• Proper restoration is vital not only for Ukraine’s energy resilience but also to prevent a broader ecological disaster in the region

⏭️ What's next: Restoring the plant will require Ukrainian control of the territory, security guarantees, and international collaboration
• Without these, experts say restarting operations is unsafe and infeasible

💬 One quote: “There’s no point in trying to rebuild a plant and operate it if it could be jeopardised at any moment,” — Edwin Lyman, Union of Concerned Scientists

📈 One stat: The Zaporizhzhia plant previously generated around 20% of Ukraine’s electricity with its six reactors

See here detailed sustainability performance of companies like Westinghouse, and Rosatom

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