Federal Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel has granted Ukraine a further €12.4 million to overcome the consequences of the devastating accident at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor. The funds will be used to secure the so-called sarcophagus, which ensures the safe encapsulation and containment of the ruined reactor. In April 1986 Chernobyl was the site of the world's most serious accident to date in the commercial utilisation of nuclear power.
"We must not leave Ukraine to deal with the consequences of this disaster on its own," said Gabriel. "International help remains vital." Especially due to Germany's urging, Russia is now also a co-financer. The Federal Environment Minister said he expected that Russia would increase its commitment still further. With the help of a concrete and steel casing - the sarcophagus - the environment will be securely shielded from the radioactivity still being released from the destroyed reactor. All in all the clean-up will cost over 1 billion dollars. The funds needed, including the 12.5 million euros now provided by the German government, are paid into the Chernobyl Shelter Fund, administered by the European bank for Reconstruction and Development in London. Germany's payments to the fund since 1998 now total 60.5 million euros. Furthermore, Germany also provides around 28 per cent of the EU contribution of nearly 240 million euros, and is thus one of the main donor countries.
"The level of costs shows that the consequences of a nuclear accident are not only devastating for humans and the environment, but also result in serious economic burdens," stressed Gabriel. In the course of 2005 the G8 countries agreed on how to distribute the costs among the individual G8 countries and other donor states. The support is based on agreements made in the 1990s. At that time Ukraine agreed to decommission all the reactors in Chernobyl. The last unit ceased operation in 2000. "Chernobyl is a constant reminder that the utilisation of nuclear power holds unjustifiable risks," said Gabriel. "By phasing out nuclear power, Germany has taken the right road."