Ukraine needs additional $215mln to build new sarcophagus in Chernobyl

Forum Contacts RSS		RUSSIAN

RIA Novosti, PUBLISHED June 28, 2011

Ukraine needs an additional 150 million euros ($215 million) to complete nuclear safety work at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said on Tuesday.

"We have received funds - 100 million euros ($143 million), but another 150 million euros is still in needed," Yanukovych said.

"The funds we received allow us to begin the work at Chernobyl," Yanukovych added. He explained that referred to the creation of a new protective sarcophagus. According to Yanukovych, all construction will be completed in 2015.

The Ukrainian president also expressed hope for G8 support on this project.

The area around the Chernobyl plant, about 150 kilometers (93 miles) from the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, remains highly contaminated from an explosion at the plant's reactor number four a quarter of a century ago.

Vast areas, mainly in the three then-Soviet republics of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, were contaminated by the fallout from the major nuclear meltdown and some 200,000 people were relocated.

Over the last 16 years, Ukraine has tried to raise funds to build a new shelter over the nuclear reactor at Chernobyl to make the area environmentally safe. The total amount needed to implement the entire project is approximately $2.2 billion.

Topics: East Europe, Ukraine

Other news:

U.S. lifts market restrictions against Rosatom

Rosatom will no longer be required to get a special license from the U.S. Department of Commerce to cooperate with American companies.

New chemical elements synthesized by Russian team recognized

Element 114 was first synthesized in December 1998 by bombarding plutonium nuclei with calcium nuclei, which have 94 and 20 protons respectively.

Russia lacks personnel to dismantle nuclear sites

Russia is to decommission and dismantle 42 nuclear facilities by 2015 and 188 by 2020, Rosatom department head Yevgeny Komarov said.

Hero of the day

Alexander Chistozvonov: end of the Romantic period

Today, the army of managers is earnestly believing that one can take the man responsible for the licensing of alcoholic beverages, and put it on licensing, and even to supervise the nuclear reactor.

INTERVIEW

Christophe Behar
We are preparing now a review of these design options and the decision has to be made in 2012, by the public authorities. ASTRID basic and detailed design will be launched afterwards.

OPINION

Dmitry Kosyrev
Asia cannot be split into pro-China and anti-China camps because of economic and other realities, including Mother Nature herself.