Trump and Ukrainian nuclear power plants: What is the problem with the initiative?

US President Donald Trump has set his sights on the Zaporizhzhia NPP, but there is a nuance to this concept, given that it may take years before there is any hope of a return on investment. This is because six of the ZNPP’s reactors are in a state of cold shutdown, the facility has lost its main source of cooling water, and the condition of its equipment is unknown. Some believe this idea serves as a means of pressure on Russia, as the plant will eventually need to be returned to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the Center for Energy Research indicated that restoring the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to the Ukrainian energy grid would mark a “turning point” in energy generation, not only for Ukraine but for Eastern and Central Europe as well. Before the full-scale invasion, the plant produced 20% of Ukraine’s electricity. However, it could take up to a year to restart just one reactor, and four years to launch the entire plant.

Additionally, several legal and other challenges to the US plan to oversee operations at Ukrainian nuclear power plants. Among these obstacles is that all Ukrainian NPPs are owned by Energoatom, and their privatization is legally prohibited.