Representatives of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), European Commission (EC) and world‘s leading media companies visited the Chernobyl NPP on March 17.
As was emphasized by the Director of EBRD Nuclear Safety Department Mr. Vince Novak, the visit was organized first of all to attract attention of the world community to the works and progress made in transforming the Chernobyl NPP site into an environmentally safe object, as well as to provide information support to activities on pledging the additional contributions for implementation of Chernobyl projects:
“The site visit will demonstrate to the world community what has been achieved as from the establishment of the international donor funds and what still to be done. We want to show to the donors how their money has been spent to date, and for what purposes the additional contributions are still needed to successfully complete the projects.”
During the tour the delegation visited the facilities, construction of which is funded from the Nuclear Safety Account (NSA) and Chernobyl Shelter Fund (CSF) – Interim Spent Fuel Storage Facility (ISF-2), Liquid Radioactive Waste Treatment Plant (LRTP) and construction site of New Safe Confinement (NSC).
The guests noted the great progress in implementing these projects. In particular, the ISF-2 facility is currently in active phase of construction. It will enable to manage more than 20 000 fuel assemblies, their drying, cutting and subsequent safe storage for a period of 100 years. Works on the LRTP commissioning are finished. A separate permission giving the right to operate this facility was obtained in December 2014.
Erection of the Arch structures, which were lifted to their full design height in six jacking operations and will be joined together in April 2015, is nearing completion at the NSC construction site. Main works here are now focusing on the installation of a sophisticated ventilation system that will protect the NSC from corrosion during its lifetime, and the construction of a technological building, which will house control and electrical systems and equipment for decontamination.
Following the tour, the media briefing was held, during which the representatives of EBRD, EC, Chernobyl NPP management, Project Management Units and contracting organizations answered the questions of attending journalists.
The Director of EBRD Nuclear Safety Department Mr. Vince Novak emphasized that approximately €615 million is needed additionally to complete the project works. The EBRD shareholders have pledged €350 million from the Bank’s reserves and €165 million contribution from the G7 and European Commission is anticipated. The remaining €100 million financial gap is expected to be covered by other non-G7/EC donors, as it is in the best interest of both Ukraine and the international community to bring to successful conclusion the important work that has been implemented at the ChNPP site. The conclusion of these tasks is of a great importance for the whole world. The massive progress has been made in actual works on the ground. More than €1.4 billion have been spent. However, the ultimate safety objective will only be achieved when the NSC is completed.
