On February 8, 2017, a working meeting between Mr. Anatolii Dyriv, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Environmental Policy, Nature Resources Utilization and Elimination of the Consequences of Chernobyl Catastrophe, Mr. Vince Novak, Director of EBRD Nuclear Safety Department, and Mr. Alexander Slavis, Representative of Chernobyl Shelter Fund and Nuclear Safety Account to Ukraine has been held to discuss a number of issues relating to a status of implementing the international projects on Chernobyl site.
Mr. Vince Novak informed about meetings scheduled for this year of G7 representatives where it is stipulated to discuss a status of implementing the international projects on Chernobyl site.
The EBRD representatives noticed that year 2016 was the outstanding one for Chernobyl projects, and this gives an impetus for effective cooperation of EBRD and Ukraine in 2017.
The participants of the working meeting discussed an issue of work completion according to contract time-tables of the international projects on construction of New Safe Confinement, Interim Storage Facility for Spent Nuclear Fuel, Liquid Radioactive Waste Treatment Plant and Industrial Complex for Solid Radioactive Waste Management. The issue concerning funding starting from 2018 from the State Budget of Ukraine for operation of the mentioned facilities was also taken into consideration.
The EBRD representatives highly appreciated the progress of Ukrainian party in full implementation of Ukrainian contribution to the Chernobyl Shelter Fund before the end of 2017 which is planned to carry out due to reallocation of savings under the budget programs of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine.
The working meeting participants mentioned the necessity to elaborate additional “emergency” decisions related to ensure acceptance of vitrified high-level radioactive waste for long-term storage.
The EBRD representatives positively perceived the proposal as to hold final meeting of the Assembly of Contributors in Kiev in December 2017.
Adapted from official web-portal of
the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.