Russia prepares to launch ZNPP power unit – license issued
FILE PHOTO: A Russian service member stands guard at a checkpoint near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant before the arrival of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expert mission in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict outside Enerhodar in the Zaporizhzhia region, Russian-controlled Ukraine, June 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko/File Photo
Russia has issued a license to operate the first power unit of the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant for a period of 10 years.
This was reported by the so-called ZNPP administration and the Russian company Rosenergoatom.
The license was issued by the Russian Rostechnadzor service. According to Russian regulations, such a document means confirmation of nuclear safety and opens up the possibility of long-term operation of the power unit in the event of its removal from the cold shutdown mode and start-up at full power.
Russian authorities stated that the issuance of the license is part of the process of integrating the Zaporizhzhia NPP into the legal framework of the Russian Federation. They also announced plans to issue licenses for five more power units of the plant – from the second to the sixth – in 2026-2027.
Director General of the Rosatom State Corporation Alexey Likhachev said that Russia is gradually approaching the change in the operating mode of the first power unit of the Zapadnaya NPP. According to him, the unit is fully ready to resume electricity production.
Ukraine, which is the legal owner of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, has not yet commented on this information. The International Atomic Energy Agency, whose representatives are at the plant, has also not released an official reaction.
It was previously reported that Washington proposed dividing the management of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, which is located in the occupied territory, into three – between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia.
As a reminder,Japan is preparing to restart the world’s largest nuclear power plant after almost 15 years of downtime.
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