Press ReleaseG-7 Statement on Nuclear Safety and Ukraine's Chornobyl NPPJune 30, 1999Download file in MS-WORDOn June 18, 1999 the Group of Seven industrial countries at their summit in Cologne, Germany, adopted a statement on nuclear safety and Ukraine's Chornobyl plant. The statement reiterates the G7's commitment to the successful implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the G7 and Ukraine on decommissioning the Chornobyl nuclear power plant. They have noted significant progress that has been made in carrying out the Shelter Implementation Plan to secure the environmental safety of the sarcophagus covering the destroyed reactor, and have agreed that the G7 will help ensure the continued financing and the progress in the work under this plan. They have called on concerned governments and private-sector donors to join the G7 in this effort and take part in a pledging conference to be held before the next G7 summit. Following is the text of the G7 statement on Nuclear Safety and Ukraine's Chornobyl plant. "We renew our commitment to the successful implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the G7 and Ukraine. We welcome Ukraine's renewed firm commitment to the closure of Chornobyl on schedule by the year 2000. Our overriding goal is the closure of the Chornobyl power plant by the agreed timetable. We note that significant progress has been made in carrying out the Shelter Implementation Plan to secure the environmental safety of the sarcophagus covering the remains of the destroyed Chornobyl reactor. To date, contributions to the Chornobyl Shelter Fund total US$393 million, including US$50 million from Ukraine. We have agreed that the G7 will help ensure the continued financing and the progress in the work under the Shelter Implementation Plan. We call on concerned governments and private-sector donors to join us in this effort. To this end, we plan to hold a pledging conference before the next summit. We reaffirm our commitment to assist Ukraine, within the context of the MoU, in mobilizing funds for energy projects to help meet its power needs. To date, projects have been agreed totaling over US$746 million. In addition, in the field of nuclear safety US$485 million have been granted, not including the Shelter Implementation Plan. We look to the Government of Ukraine to accelerate the fundamental reforms in the energy sector, including improvements in cash collection and privatization, to encourage financially viable investments in power generation and distribution and in energy efficiency. We commend the steady work that has allowed Ukraine, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and EURATOM to enter into the final phase of negotiations on loans to complete two reactors at Rivne and Khmelnitsky. We call on the parties to take the necessary steps to provide for an early agreement on loans for safe, cost-effective, and financially and environmentally sound projects." For more information, please contact:
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