OREANDA-NEWS. On December 15, 2008 in London, at the headquarters of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development a regular sitting of Donor Assembly of the Chornobyl Ukryttya (Shelter) Fund and the Nuclear Safety Account was convened with participation of Minister of Emergency Situations of Ukraine Volodymyr Shandra.

“The world financial crunch will not influence the plans and terms of financing of construction works at the new safe confinement at the Chornobyl NPP,” the MES head announced. Inflation will not affect this greatly as financing the project is going on in foreign currency. Metal, for instance, has dropped in price that’s why it proves hard to make final estimations on price of the project. According to the Minister, the countries-donors in case the project rises in price or unforeseen complications emerge, in particular inflation, are ready to add the necessary sum.

Volodymyr Shandra also stressed that implementation of all Chornobyl projects is being under the EBRD control and twice a year is reported to the donor’s assembly in terms of funds’ use. “The control over use of resources is rather drastic, which fills with confidence that the plans to complete construction of the new safe confinement by summer of 2012 will be realized. Now we clearly stick to the schedule,” Volodymyr Shandra emphasized.

Moreover, the Minister expressed his belief the following assembly of the donor-states would adopt a decision on significant filling of the Ukryttya Chornobyl Fund and the Nuclear Safety Account.

It was reported earlier, on May 15 of the current year the EBRD approved a decision to earmark for the Ukryttya Fund Eur 135 million, while on July 15 during a sitting of the Council of donor-states the G-8 endorsed an ordinance on allocation of additional Eur 60 million.