The
G8 has pledged $185m to the Chernobyl Shelter Fund, at an event in London. The
support will go towards funding the construction of a new shelter for the
damaged unit 4 reactor at Chernobyl.More than $700m has now been pledged to the Fund for the 1986 disaster, following conferences New York in 1997 and Berlin in 1999.
"Securing the safety of the Chernobyl site after the 1986 accident demands the continued commitment of the international community,” said Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks, co-chairing the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development alongside Ukranian Emergencies Minister Davyd Zhvaniya.
“The UK is playing its part and has contributed $53 million to the fund including $18 million pledged today which has already been paid to the EBRD. The G8 welcomes Ukraine's contribution to this project. This is a clear testimony of the strong commitment of the Ukrainian government towards its completion and to taking over the full responsibility for the project," he added.
