US commits $100 million to repair damaged Chornobyl sarcophagus
Photo: The US will allocate funds to repair the confinement at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (t.me/Denys_Smyhal)
The United States will provide $100 million to restore the protective structure of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, which was damaged in a Russian drone attack, says First Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal.
Funding needs
According to the minister, the issue of financing repairs to the sarcophagus was discussed with international partners during the International Chornobyl Conference.
Currently, the total amount required for the full restoration of the facility is estimated at around €500 million.
Denys Shmyhal thanked the US Department of State, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and the American delegation for their financial support, which will help strengthen radiation safety in Europe.
War and Chornobyl safety
Notably, on the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster, global concerns about the state of nuclear facilities in Ukraine have resurfaced. Although the exclusion zone has become a unique nature reserve over the decades, the full-scale war has brought back a sense of danger.
Earlier, Ukraine signed an agreement to receive the first €30 million for repair work at the plant. Overall, fundraising efforts have been launched to restore the New Safe Confinement following the Russian attack.
At the same time, EBRD experts predict that the full restoration of the protective arch will not be completed until 2030 and will cost at least €500 million. This is due to the significant damage caused by Russian strikes and the need for complex assessment and repair stages.
