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EBRD and Ukraine discuss Chernobyl Shelter Fund
The Ukraine/EBRD Joint Committee overseeing Chernobyl Shelter Fund (CSF) and
EBRD-administered Nuclear Safety Account projects held a meeting today
co-chaired by Prime Minister Yuri Yekhanurov and EBRD Vice President Fabrizio
Saccomanni. Hans Blix, chairman of the CSF Donor Assembly, participated as a
guest.
The committee discussed issues such as VAT reimbursement procedures, Ukraine’s
contribution to the CSF and necessary provisions in Ukraine’s state budget to
support the project. Constructive approaches for all issues were agreed.
Both sides had agreed to reestablish the Joint Committee as a top level
coordination group at a moment where the Shelter Implementation Plan reaches a
crucial point. The awarding of the contract for the construction of a New Safe
Confinement, the single most important project, is expected within the next
few months.
The Joint Committee as well as a working group for the day-to-day cooperation
between the EBRD and Ukrainian authorities reporting to the JC (co-chaired by
Minister Viktor Baloga and EBRD’s Nuclear Safety Account Director Vince Novak)
will serve as a platform to identify and resolve all issues with the potential
to delay the project and cause cost increases.
EBRD Vice President Saccomanni underlined: “The international community, which
has provided more than €650 million to date and pledged another €150 million
last May, is committed to the project and needs the assurance that the project
is managed in the most efficient and effective way possible so that cost risks
can be minimized.”
Ukraine Prime Minister Yekhanurov stated that the upcoming 20th anniversary of
the Chernobyl accident would provide an opportunity to demonstrate the
progress which has been made thanks to the close cooperation of the donor
countries, Ukraine and the EBRD. He invited the Bank to the next meeting of
the Joint Committee to be held in early April.
Also today CSF Chairman Blix, accompanied by an EBRD delegation led by Vice
President Saccomanni, met with Ukraine’s President Viktor Yushchenko. Mr Blix
stressed that donors were committed to support Ukraine in the mitigation of
the consequences of the Chernobyl accident and that they relied on Ukraine and
its President to provide leadership and an efficient management to complete
the project successfully.
President Yushchenko assured Mr Blix that Ukraine was fully committed to work
with donors and the EBRD to complete the project in an effective way.
Press contact:
Contact in Kiev: Anton Usov
Tel: + 38 044 270 61 32
Email:
UsovA@ebrd.com
Contact in London: Axel Reiserer
Tel: +44 20 7338 7753
Email:
Reiserea@ebrd.com
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