Estonia to support Chernobyl fund

TALLINN - The Estonian Foreign Ministry announced that it is donating 25,000 euros through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to support the Chernobyl Shelter Fund’s projects related to the shelter constructed around the Chernobyl nuclear plant’s fourth reactor and securing the environment in the area, reports news agency LETA. This year will mark 25 years since the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that the accident that took place 25 years ago in the Chernobyl nuclear plant’s fourth reactor changed the entire world’s attitude towards nuclear power. “Estonia’s support for the Ukrainian government in mitigating the damage from the Chernobyl nuclear plant disaster will help to improve the environmental conditions in the area and in surrounding countries,” emphasized Foreign Minister Paet.

In co-operation with Ukraine, the G7 nations and the European Commission created the Chernobyl Shelter Fund in 1997 to support the restoration of environmentally safe conditions in the area around the Chernobyl nuclear plant. The fund is managed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Currently, the Chernobyl Shelter Fund’s and Nuclear Safety Account’s projects involving the Chernobyl nuclear plant have been supported by the European Union as well as 29 other nations.

With the help of the fund, the existing shelter around the reactor has been stabilized and a new safe confinement (NSC) structure has been constructed, which is needed for the future decommissioning of the Chernobyl plant. The securing of the shelter and the construction of the NSC structure were supported with 1.2 billion euros. In order to finish the projects, an additional 740 million euros is needed.

Both the G8 countries as well as the European Union member states have stated their readiness to continue supporting the funds connected to the Chernobyl nuclear plant.