France contributes €10 million to the EBRD's Chornobyl Fund for the restoration of the protective shelter over the Chornobyl sarcophagus

During the Assembly of Donors of the International Chornobyl Cooperation Account (ICCA), representatives of the French Government announced a EUR 10 million contribution to the EBRD’s Chornobyl Fund. This funding will support ongoing repair works on the New Safe Confinement over the fourth reactor of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP), which was damaged during a russian drone attack in February this year.

The pledge agreement was signed by Pierre Heilbronn, Special Envoy of the French President for Ukraine’s Relief and Reconstruction, and Mark Bowman, EBRD Vice President for Policy and Partnerships, at the EBRD’s 34th Annual Meeting and Business Forum in London.

“I express my deep gratitude to the Government of France for the decision to provide funding for the restoration of the protective sarcophagus over the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Your contribution is crucial for ensuring nuclear safety not only in Ukraine but worldwide. It is not only support for technical solutions, but a contribution to global stability. We highly value our bilateral cooperation with France - a partner that consistently stands with Ukraine in its most difficult times,” said Deputy Minister of Finance of Ukraine Olga Zykova.

The Deputy Minister also thanked the EBRD and all partners for their ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of the Chornobyl NPP.

At the same time, Olga Zykova emphasized that the strategic goal of Ukraine and its partners with regard to Chornobyl NPP should not be merely reacting to new emergencies caused by russian aggression, but ensuring the sustainable, long-term safety of the facility.

“Every new missile strike, every drone attack leads to new damage, which requires urgent intervention, additional resources and time. This reactive approach offers no guarantees for the future. Under wartime conditions, it is simply not sustainable. The recent attacks on the ChNPP, including the strike on the shelter, show that international nuclear safety can no longer rely solely on engineering solutions — a new level of protection is needed. We must move from a policy of reaction to one of prevention and sustainability. This means long-term investments in the modernization of Chornobyl’s safety infrastructure, continuous physical security, air defense for the site, and proper international funding for monitoring, maintenance, and rapid response,” stressed the Deputy Minister of Finance.

She added that there is a need for a systematic approach that functions regardless of how long the war lasts. International partners and donors must consider Chornobyl’s safety not just as one of many technical assistance projects, but as an integral part of global security - a breach of which has consequences not only for Ukraine but for all of Europe.

Established by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in 2020 as the successor to the Nuclear Safety Account (NSA) and the Chornobyl Shelter Fund (CSF), the International Chornobyl Cooperation Account (ICCA) supports donor engagement for a comprehensive response to Chornobyl-related challenges. Its goals include supporting Ukraine in dismantling unstable structures over reactor No. 4, conducting repairs for the safe operation of the New Safe Confinement, and managing radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel.

Since the start of russia’s full-scale invasion, the scope of the Fund has expanded to include measures aimed at restoring nuclear safety and protection at the Chornobyl site.

The EBRD is currently working with ChNPP, Ukrainian experts, and the French company Bouygues – which was involved in the original construction of the New Safe Confinement – to assess the full extent of the damage to the shelter and to develop options for long-term recovery. EUR 5 million from the Fund’s existing resources is planned to support these efforts.

Given the scale of the damage to the shelter over reactor No. 4, including to the cladding, restoration costs are expected to be significant and will far exceed the currently available funds. The total cost of fully restoring the New Safe Confinement could exceed EUR 100 million.

As of now, the Fund holds more than EUR 19 million. In total, more than EUR 26 million has been raised since the establishment of the International Chornobyl Cooperation Account.

According to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the international community has contributed around EUR 2 billion to EBRD-managed programmes in Chornobyl since 1995.