OREANDA-NEWS. October 07, 2010. The First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Andriy Klyuyev and EBRD Vice President Horst Reichenbach at a meeting of the Joint Committee Ukraine - EBRD agreed to intensify efforts to collect additional funds to the Chernobyl Shelter Fund and Nuclear Safety Account.

The parties agreed to prepare and agree a joint action plan to accelerate solving Chernobyl problems. Andriy Klyuyev and Horst Reichenbach agreed that the Government of Ukraine would adopt clear schedule of all projects at Chernobyl NPP, which would be agreed with the EBRD.

According to the Vice-President of EBRD, today there is a clear assessment of the value of all the projects. Horst Reichenbach expressed confidence that they will be approved at the Assembly of Donors as a basis for further fundraising.

Andrei Klyuyev reminded that the President of Ukraine declared 2011 as the year of Chernobyl problems solving. According to him, Viktor Yanukovych agreed with UN Secretary General Ban Kyi Moon to convene in Ukraine in April next year an international conference will be devoted to 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl tragedy. As it is known, the UN head said that he intends to be in Ukraine and take part in this important event. "According to our information, many world leaders responded to invitation of the President of Ukraine. We should work very seriously as partners - to intensify the construction of the new safe confinement (NSC), and to accelerate the construction of factories processing solid and liquid fuel and used nuclear fuel, and of used nuclear fuel storage (ISF-2)" – the Senior Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine said.

According to Horst Reichenbach, G7 and EU countries are ready for the conference, which Ukraine proposes to hold in April 2011. EBRD Vice President expressed hope that Russia will take more active position in the allocation of funds to address Chernobyl issues as well - that the efforts to find new donors will bring good results. “The first important step is a meeting between a group of G8 countries and Ukraine to be held in the second half of October” - said Horst Reichenbach.

The Senior Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, in his turn, said that all the problems of funding from the state budget of Ukraine for Chernobyl projects are solved. “On the other hand, Ukraine and the EBRD should actively work with donors to close the budget deficit, which was formed at the moment” - Andrey Klyuyev said.

Horst Reichenbach reported EBRD contacts with France authorities and expressed hope that the during that country's presidency from January 1, 2011 G8 will positively impact the process of fundraising. According to Andriy Klyuyev, this topic should be discussed during the visit of the President of Ukraine to France this Thursday.

We are now at a crucial stage - till April we have the opportunity to solve several key issues, said the Vice President. He expressed confidence that soon it will be possible to conclude the main contract with the company Holtec International (ISF-2 construction), and that the JV "Novarka" give high-quality license package (package of project documentation for construction of NSC). "If they observe the terms that we agreed with them, it is hoped that long before the donor conference in April of this license package will be approved by relevant government authorities of Ukraine, said Horst Reichenbach. Number 5 license pack provides the basic foundations of the new projects for the safe confinment, NSC basic facilities, basic equipment system.

EBRD Vice President said that since the new leadership of the Ukrainian government has control over the projects on NPP, there is tangible progress in their implementation. "Your intervention in 2006-2007 was very important to achieve the results that we have today" - Horst Reichenbach said.

He thanked the interlocutor for an appreciation of efforts by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in addressing the Chernobyl problems. EBRD Vice President stressed that the bank willingness to work on implementation of the Chernobyl project goes beyond the responsibilities to manage donor funds. Horst Reichenbach recalled that the EBRD has allocated to these projects funds from its own profit.

At the Donor Assembly 28.09.2010 optimized cost estimate projects the Chernobyl approximately 1.55 billion Euros, which requires additional contributions from donor countries to the Chernobyl Shelter Fund in the amount of 550-600 million Euros was presented. Moreover, the deficit on Nuclear Safety Account for construction of ISF -2 makes around 130-140 million Euros.

The Senior Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Andriy Klyuyev and EBRD Vice President Horst Reichenbach are the co-chairs of the Joint Committee of the Ukraine - European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.