The U.S. Department of State has announced its intention to allocate up to $100 million from available foreign aid funds to support coordinated efforts by G7 countries to ensure the continued containment of fissile nuclear materials at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine.
“For three decades, the United States and G7 partners have led efforts to secure nuclear materials at the Chornobyl NPP, with the United States providing a total of more than $365 million to finance the New Safe Confinement (NSC) arch, which protects the reactor’s critical areas,” the State Department said in a press release.
It is noted that the NSC, designed with an expected service life of 100 years, was damaged last year as a result of a Russian drone strike.
“Without repairs, the NSC can no longer provide adequate protection, which creates a risk of a dangerous release of highly radioactive materials in Europe. In line with continued U.S. leadership in nuclear safety and non-proliferation, and in cooperation with Congress, [the U.S.] is proactively allocating 20%, or $100 million, of the total $500 million estimated by the G7, for the restoration of the NSC arch and to ensure the continued safety and security of the Chornobyl reactors and nuclear materials,” the State Department stated.
The U.S. diplomatic service is also calling on its G7 and European partners to follow the United States’ example and take on “substantial financial commitments to share the burden of these necessary repair works.”
