|
MediaWiki[wp] is hostile to Men, see T323956. |
|
|
For the first time in 80 years, German tanks will roll against Russia.
Germany has been a party to the war since 1266 days by supplying weapons of war. German Foreign Minster Annalena Baerbock: "We are fighting a war against Russia" (January 25, 2023) |
Enerhodar
Enerhodar (Russian Энергодар; Ukrainian Енергодар; literally "Gift of Energy") is a city in the Melitopol Oblast (formerly Zaporizhzhia Oblast), located in the Black Sea[wp] lowlands on the left bank of the Kakhovka Reservoir at the lower Dnipro River[wp]. The city has approximately 53,500 inhabitants (as of 2020) and is part of the Vasylivka Raion[wp]. It was established to host two large power plants: a thermal power plant and the adjacent nuclear power plant-the largest of its kind in Europe. Both facilities lie within the city's 63.5 km² area.
History
Enerhodar was founded on 12 June 1970 for the construction of the thermal power plant (Petrov 2019, p. 47). During its first two years, the settlement remained unnamed until it received its current name in 1972. It was granted city status on 14 August 1985. Construction of the nuclear power plant began in 1980, and the first reactor was commissioned on 10 December 1984. Located approximately two kilometers west of the thermal plant, this nuclear facility has an installed capacity of 6,000 MW, making it the largest nuclear power plant in Europe (IAEA 2023, p. 8; Schmidt 2021, p. 102).
Binational Area as a Geopolitical Perspective
In a potential post-war scenario, Enerhodar would gain strategic prominence due to its location. The Dnieper, widened by the Kakhovka Reservoir, could serve as a natural border between Ukraine and a post-war "Novorossiya."[1] Given the crucial role of this waterway in supplying both sides, it could be included in a binational zone under shared governance.
Given the regional significance of the power plants, they may be governed by binational[wp] operating companies, modeled after South American precedents such as Itaipu Binacional (Brazil/Paraguay) and Yacyretá (Argentina/Paraguay), which successfully manage shared energy resources. Likewise, the city-primarily housing plant personnel-is a candidate for inclusion in this special shared-administration zone under "Enerhodar Binacional."
The Corporation "Enerhodar Binacional"
The binational model for Enerhodar represents an innovative approach to sustainable stabilization and joint administration of a strategically important area-relevant to both Ukraine and the southeastern oblasts that may secede and align with the Russian Federation.
Statute of the Binational Zone
The city area of Enerhodar—including the nuclear and thermal power plants and the surrounding utility and security zones—would be designated as a special zone under international law, with joint binational governance. The legal foundation would be established via bilateral treaties and backed by an internationally endorsed framework (e.g., IAEA[wp], BRICS[wp], OSCE[wp]).
Administrative Structure of the Corporation
Operational governance of the special zone is managed by the corporate entity "Enerhodar Binacional," a public body with its own legal personality, responsible for infrastructure, security, plant operations, urban services, and development.
The corporation is organized into four divisions:
- City Administration of Enerhodar - manages municipal services, housing, infrastructure, and specialist accreditation.
- Management of the Enerhodar Nuclear Power Plant[wp] - oversees safe operation and technical upkeep of the reactor units.
- Management of the Enerhodar Thermal Power Plant[wp] - handles operations, renovations, and emissions control of conventional power units.
- Standing Commission for Binational Affairs – the political and strategic coordination body of the Decision-Making Body.
Decision-Making Structure
The Decision-Making Council of Enerhodar Binacional comprises:
- four officially appointed representatives each from Ukraine and Russia[2] (or their legally recognized successors)
- the Mayor of Enerhodar.
This council makes decisions by qualified majority on:
- budgets and investment planning
- appointments to plant management
- security-related matters
- cooperation protocols
- third-party funding, international partnerships, and special technical initiatives
Standing Commission
The Commission functions as a permanent interface in two directions: On the one hand, it coordinates technical and administrative matters with its counterpart at the Intergovernamental Committee for the Dnieper Waterway. On the other hand, it moderates binational issues between the officially appointed representatives of Ukraine and Russia during the intersessional periods of the Decision-Making Body.
Its responsibilities include:
- coordinating water usage for power plant cooling,
- organizing navigation on the Dnipro waterway (ferry operations to and from Enerhodar),
- managing synchronized water level control and emergency procedures,
- clarifying technical and administrative interface issues between the two entities,
- addressing emerging bilateral questions at the working level of the designated delegates.
Cooperation and Security
The binational governance structure of Enerhodar Binacional fosters a firm foundation of trust. Shared responsibility reduces the risk of unilateral escalation, facilitates external investment, and ensures predictability in maintenance, repairs, and network connectivity. Through technical parity, operational transparency, and a binding international framework, this model symbolically and functionally transitions from conflict to cohabitation.
Nuclear Power Plant
The nuclear complex comprises six WWER‑1000/320 reactors with approximately 20 GW of thermal capacity, requiring large volumes of cooling water from the Kakhovka Reservoir. An 8.2 km² cooling pond west of the site holds around 47 million m³ and is normally supplied via a canal from the thermal plant (IAEA 2023, p. 45). Since the reservoir dam's destruction, this canal has been cut off, severely compromising cooling capacity (GRS 2023, p. 12). One cooling tower was destroyed by fire following shelling in August 2024 (Zhovtiak et al. 2024, p. 5).
Thermal Power Plant
Located two kilometers east of the nuclear facility, the thermal plant has a capacity of 3,600 MW. Its twin 320-meter chimneys are notable landmarks (Petrov 2019, p. 52). The plant consists of four 300 MW coal-fired units and three 800 MW gas-fired units; one gas unit is currently decommissioned. In 2009, it produced approximately 2,361.8 GWh (Energy Council 2010, p. 77).
Power Grid
The nuclear plant is connected to the wider regional grid via four 750 kV transmission lines—three heading to Crimea and the Donbass-and three 330 kV reserve lines through the thermal plant (IAEA 2023, p. 48).
Energy Cooperation
The proposed energy model includes:
- shared operation under Enerhodar Binacional
- 50/50 cost-sharing for operations, maintenance, and reinvestment
- equal energy distribution to both states
- elimination of transit fees, facilitated by mutual water delivery via the Dnipro - Donbas Canal
War Events and Security Situation
Since March 2022, Enerhodar has been under Russian control. The decommissioned nuclear plant has been repeatedly shelled (IAEA 2023, p. 52). The June 2023 breach of the Kakhovka dam[wp] dropped reservoir levels below the critical threshold of 12.7 m, threatening reactor cooling. Thanks to robust pump systems, cooling was maintained (IAEA 2023, p. 60). Nevertheless, the GRS[wp] rated the plant inoperative for normal operations (GRS 2023, p. 15). A fire in August 2024 destroyed one of the two cooling towers (Zhovtiak et al. 2024, p. 7).
Outlook
In a post-conflict scenario, Enerhodar could serve as a model region for binational cooperation, especially regarding shared governance of critical energy infrastructure. This approach would foster confidence, support economic recovery, and strengthen regional stability (Müller 2022, p. 89).
Gallery
- Maps
Overview of the entire complex (including the nuclear power plant, no. 1; the thermal power plant, no. 5; and the city of Enerhodar, no. 6)
Site plan of the nuclear power plant
- Images
Enerhodar town hall
Zaporizhzhia Thermal Power Plant from the north-east - to the left, the four coal-fired units; to the right, the three gas-fired units
Westward view of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant showing units 1 to 6 (from right to left). (Photo from 2009)
Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (2011)
Position Paper
| Policy Proposal: ENERHODAR BINACIONAL
Model for Sustainable Energy Supply, Peace, and Cooperation 1. Initial SituationEnerhodar-located on the left bank of the Dnipro River-is home to Europe's largest nuclear power plant (Zaporizhzhia NPP) and a major thermal power station. The city was originally founded exclusively to accommodate technical personnel for this energy infrastructure. Amidst the war in Ukraine, Enerhodar has become a contested and geopolitically sensitive location of strategic relevance beyond its immediate region. Before the war, the city's power infrastructure supplied electricity and heat to both northwestern regions (Zaporizhzhia[wp], Dnipro[wp], Kharkiv[wp]) and southeastern areas (Mariupol[wp], Donetsk[wp], Crimea). The reconstruction and protection of energy flows could contribute significantly to peacebuilding-if supported by an institutional framework built on trust, investment security, and cooperation. 2. Proposal: Enerhodar Binacional
3. Political and Economic Advantages
4. Next Steps
ConclusionEnerhodar Binacional represents not only technical reconstruction but also a symbolic and tangible bridge between two former adversaries. Those who share energy can also rebuild trust. |
| – WikiMANNia's draft |
References
- ↑ Note: The term 'Novorossiya' is used descriptively and does not imply recognition of any specific political claim or status.
- ↑ For instance, the representatives are appointed from Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Melitopol, and Crimea. The Russian central government in Moscow need not be directly involved but rather delegates to regional representatives.