On March 11, a meeting of Joint Committee “Ukraine – European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)” was held relating to implementation of international assistance projects on preparing Chernobyl NPP for decommissioning and Shelter transformation into environmentally safe system funded from Nuclear Safety Account and Chernobyl Shelter Fund administrated by EBRD on the instructions of donor countries.
The meeting was attended by:
on behalf of Ukraine – Mr. Hennadii Zubko, Vice-Prime-Minister of Ukraine – Minister of Regional Development, Construction and Housing and Utilities, Head of the Organizational Committee for preparing and holding the events in 2016 associated with 30th anniversary of Chernobyl catastrophe, Mr. Vitalii Petruk, Head of the State Agency of Ukraine for Exclusion Zone Management, and the representatives of ministries and authorities;
on behalf of EBRD – Mr. Alain Pilloux, Acting Vice-President of EBRD, Mr. Vince Novak, Director of Nuclear Safety Department.
The parties noted a significant progress in implementing the projects, excellent cooperation of the parties during work performance on ChNPP site, emphasized a necessity of removing all obstacles to keep rate of progress with the view of successful completion of the projects in 2016-2017, discussed preparation for execution of events during April 25-26, 2016, dedicated to 30th anniversary of Chernobyl catastrophe. Particularly, this is the International Conference related to pledging to the Nuclear Safety Account for full implementation of the project on construction of Interim Spent Fuel Storage Facility (ISF-2) at Chernobyl NPP.
This year, the pledging conference will be held in Kiev under co-presidency of Ukraine and Japan (as countries holding the presidency of G7). Over 20 countries have been invited to the Conference, including G7 countries, as well as the European Commission and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
During the meeting, common tasks and cooperation prospects were targeted.
Background information
The ISF-2 Project is funded from the Nuclear Safety Account. The construction is carried out by Holtec and, according to scheduled date, should be completed in autumn 2016.
The NSC Project is financed from the Chernobyl Shelter Fund, is being implemented by French Consortium “Novarka”, and it should be completed in autumn 2017, according to approved schedule.
The Joint Committee of Ukraine and EBRD was established pursuant to Section 5 of the Framework Agreement between Ukraine and EBRD dated November 20, 1997.
Ukraine and EBRD make the Joint Committee with the purpose of information sharing and discussing the execution of this Framework Agreement relating to:
- progress achieved due to realization of the Shelter Implementation Plan;
- challenges and problems arising during performance of the project milestones;
- promptness and sufficiency of Ukrainian contribution made to perform the Shelter Implementation Plan or its subcomponents;
- other issues relating to the Shelter Implementation Plan.
The activity of Joint Committee is regulated by the Order No.1274 of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated September 2, 2006, “On Approval of a List of Ukrainian Representatives of the Joint Committee “Ukraine – European Bank for Reconstruction and Development” determining a list of Ukrainian party. The meetings are carried out under presidency of Vice-Prime-Minister of Ukraine involving the senior officials from ministries and authorities.