International Community Sponsors Chornobyl Projects

Kyiv, April 20, 2011. The international community has started to assess future donations into the Chornobyl projects at the international conference “Chornobyl, 25 Years. Safety for the Future”, which started yesterday in Kyiv. So far the EBRD, European Commission, France and Ukraine have voiced their anticipated contributions into Chornobyl Shelter Fund (CSF).

The president of the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development Thomas Mirow stated that EBRD will contribute 120 million euros into the Chornobyl projects. However, according to Mirow, the EBRD is ready to increase the amount of the future donation up to 180 million euros in case the country-donors fail to contribute 480 million euros this year.

France intends to transfer over 47 million euros to the CSF. This statement was made by France’s Prime Minister Francois Fillon at the Chornobyl conference, April 19. He reminded that France has already transferred 160 million euros for the early works on implementing the projects.

Ukraine, as the site of the devastating explosion at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, plans to donate approximately 73 million euros for the Chornobyl projects.

The European Commission (EC) plans to make a contribution in the amount of 110 million euros. The President of the EC Jose Manuel Barroso voiced the decision of the European Commission. Over the years, the European Union has been playing a major role in supporting Chornobyl, being the main financial donor of Chornobyl’s major projects. To the date, The European commission invested over 470 million euros into Chernobyl-related projects. Such assistance has supported the safety improvements at Chornobyl, and provided help to people whose lives are still affected by the accident. As the largest donor to the Chornobyl Shelter Fund, the Commission has pledged some 240 million euros (over a quarter of the total amount) for the construction of a new shell over the damaged reactor. Barroso commented, that the European Commission is offering additional 110 million euros to demonstrate its support of creating a safe zone around Chornobyl.

Though 25 years have passed since the accident took place, the consequences of the disaster are not over. Therefore Ukraine continues to look for international support to Chornobyl-related projects while investing significant funds into the consequences management as well as providing direct financial aid to the affected people and their relatives.