Atomic missiles: when can the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant return under Ukrainian control?

Today there is a shortage of production in Ukraine, but it is minimal and more difficulties arise due to the fact that electricity cannot be transported through grids, as they are damaged by attacks by the Russian Armed Forces. About Focus said Vladimir Omelchenko, director of energy programs at the Razumkov Center.

“The production shortage is minimal, the problem is more related to the generation of capacities in the grid. Although a number of power units in Ukrainian thermal power plants are not working, the station blocks can produce electricity. But there is no major production shortage, ” noted the expert.

According to the expert, the return of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant under the control of Energoatom will be an important aid to the energy system.

“Zaporozhye NPP is 6 units of 1 GW, which is 30% of the total generation in the country. A big role in the energy system. Perhaps by the new year the station will be under Energoatom’s control. It won’t enter the system immediately, because *culists can remove many critical objects in the station, they also spoil the equipment, we already see something similar in Kherson, they can also steal equipment. Vladimir Omelchenko thinks that after the liberation of Energodar and the station, it will definitely take at least a month.

According to him, the danger of missile attacks by the Russian Armed Forces on substations near the Ukrainian nuclear power plants is that this can cause a huge shortage in electricity production.

“The danger is high – when emergency protection is triggered, nuclear power units will run for their own needs without electrifying the system, creating a huge deficit in the energy system.. If it were possible to predict when a blow would occur, then it would be possible to reduce the load on production, reduce consumption, and in this way it would be possible to minimize the consequences – it would not be a one-time drop. power, which extremely negatively affects power plants – even those that are not in the strike zone -” stressed Vladimir Omelchenko.

According to the expert, Ukraine can import electricity, but now this will not save the system in a critical state.

“The import may be important, but it will not save the system in a critical state. Ukraine’s electricity needs are limited to 16 GW, while our imports are limited to 500 MW, which is 32 times less than the system requires. In other words, imports can meet up to 4% of consumption in Ukraine. There is another point – the electricity price in Ukraine is three times lower than in the EU and there is no economic interest for the European Union to supply it here, it is necessary to create a compensation model, it can be implemented, it is already discussed, “he said.

Important

as it is written FocusThe withdrawal of weapons from the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant will be one of the mandatory points of the agreement between Ukraine and Russia with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Recall that on November 23, the RF Armed Forces carried out another terrorist attack against the Ukrainian energy infrastructure. As a result of the bombardment, units at three nuclear power plants in Ukraine were disconnected from the electrical system.

Experts have said before FocusTo improve the situation with electricity supply, it is possible to supply the cities of Ukraine with new equipment to supply electricity to consumers – these are modular power plants, the cost of such a station is $ 17-20 million.