Jack Wall
Question:162 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions which have taken place with European Union Governments regarding the closing down of Chernobyl; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1500/02]
Written Answers. - Nuclear Plants.
The EU has played an active role in addressing the grave environmental and humanitarian consequences of the Chernobyl disaster. It has also been instrumental in helping to finance an approach which has led to the closure of Chernobyl and made more secure the generators which remain there. The EU's policy has been developed in the framework of an overall reform of the energy sector in Ukraine.
The nuclear reactor destroyed in the accident at Chernobyl on 26 April 1986 was enclosed in a shelter or sarcophagus hastily built by the former Soviet authorities after the accident. Through age and deterioration, it had become unstable and required urgent repair and partial reconstruction. At the Denver Summit, in June 1997, the G7 and the European Commission endorsed the setting up of a multilateral funding mechanism to assist Ukraine in making the existing shelter safe and environmentally stable. The total cost of this shelter implementation plan is approximately US$750 million. The EU has so far provided 90.5 million for the shelter fund, including 40 million in 2001.
Ukraine had posited the closure of Chernobyl on international assistance for completing two other nuclear power stations – known as K2 and R4 – Khmelnitsky and Rivne. The EU provided financial assistance in this regard, including through a loan financing package provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The closure of the last nuclear power generating unit at the Chernobyl site was announced by the Ukraine Government in December 2000.
Moreover, the EU intends to provide an additional 20 million to ensure that adequate fuel is available for local needs and to address the social impact of the closure of Chernobyl.
At a bilateral level also, of course, Ireland has been active in addressing the consequences of Chernobyl, including through a contribution to the shelter fund over and above our share of the EU contribution.