Energy News
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
France pledges 10 mn euros for Chernobyl repair: Europe bank
France pledges 10 mn euros for Chernobyl repair: Europe bank
by AFP Staff Writers
London (AFP) May 14, 2025

France will contribute 10 million euros to help fix a radiation cover at the Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine allegedly hit by a Russian drone, Europe's development bank announced Wednesday.

The amount, equivalent to $11.2 million, was unveiled at the annual conference of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in London.

Ukraine has accused Russia of using an explosive drone to damage the containment vault at the power plant in February, in an attack that did not result in any radiation being released.

In 1986, a reactor at Chernobyl exploded during a botched safety test, resulting in the world's worst nuclear accident, which sent clouds of radiation across much of Europe and forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate.

Following the incident this year, France has offered funds "to support the restoration of the key functions of" the cover, referred to as the New Safe Confinement.

The "strike rendered systems designed to ensure the NSC's 100-year lifespan non-operational and significantly increased the risk of further deterioration in the absence of swift emergency repairs", said the EBRD, established in 1991 to help former Soviet bloc nations embrace free-market economies.

Thanks to funds from France, the EBRD said it "will support measures to repair the external cladding to stop the ingress of water.

"In the longer term, work will be carried out to restore the core functionality of the facility to minimise the release of further contaminated dust into the environment," the bank added.

France's pledge adds to the EBRD-managed International Chernobyl Cooperation Account, previously holding 25 million euros in funds.

French President Emmanuel Macron's special envoy for the reconstruction of Ukraine, Pierre Heilbronn, said the contribution "illustrates France's longstanding support for Ukraine.

"French companies played a crucial role in building the NSC (up to completion in 2019), and we hope that this first contribution, which comes only three months after the drone attack, should unlock further pledges from partner countries."

British newspaper The Guardian said the repairs could total tens of millions of euros.

The EBRD on Wednesday said it was too early to precise the cost of fixing the cover.

Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
A world of storm and tempest
When the Earth Quakes

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Second Fukushima debris removal trial complete
Tokyo (AFP) April 23, 2025
A tricky operation to remove a second sample of radioactive debris from inside Japan's stricken Fukushima nuclear plant has been completed, the site operator said Wednesday. Dangerously high radiation levels mean that removing melted fuel and other debris from the plant hit by a huge tsunami in 2011 is seen as the most daunting challenge in the decades-long decommissioning project. Around 880 tonnes of hazardous material are inside the power station - the site of one of history's worst nuclear ... read more

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Europe's biggest 'green' methanol plant opens in Denmark

Biogas Production from Alfalfa Enhanced by Fruit Waste and Microbes

Bacteria breathe electricity unlocking bioenergy and clean tech potential

Difficult energy transition looms without major EU investment in biomass

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Helping Waterbirds and Floating Solar Energy Thrive Together

Turning light into usable energy

Rice engineers develop resonant energy system for more efficient solar desalination

China's Renewable Energy Shift Faces Sustainability Challenges

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Norway's Equinor slams 'unlawful' halt to US wind farm

US halts Equinor's huge New York offshore wind project

Chinese energy giant Goldwind posts annual growth as overseas drive deepens

Clean energy giant Goldwind leads China's global sector push

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
EU targets conservation red tape to speed up renewables permits

UK lab promises air-con revolution without polluting gases

Indians buy 14 million ACs a year, and need many more

How can India decarbonize its coal-dependent electric power system?

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Dongguk University Researchers Develop Scalable Zinc-Ion Battery Technology for Industrial Use

Chinese EV battery giant CATL aims to raise $4 bn in Hong Kong IPO

Fusion modeling breakthrough accelerates stellarator design and confinement accuracy

UT Austin researchers advance magnetic fusion design with new confinement method

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Copenhagen to offer giveaways to eco-friendly tourists

Sweden's 'Queen of Trash' risks prison in toxic waste crime trial

Greenpeace Denmark launches fake tourism ad to highlight pollution

Hong Kong loosens rules for harbour reclamation

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Hydrogen Exploration Blueprint for a Carbon-Free Energy Future

Efficient Green Hydrogen Production from Urine

US announces new sanctions on Iran oil sales to China

Dutch climate group launches new case against Shell

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Searching for Spherules to Sample

Searching for the Dark in the Light

China opens international payload opportunities for Mars sample return mission

NASA's Curiosity Rover May Have Solved Mars' Missing Carbonate Mystery

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.