Oslo commits fresh funds to strengthen nuclear safety at Chernobyl

Norway has announced an additional contribution of 100 million Norwegian kroner (approximately $10 million) to support the restoration of the New Safe Confinement (NSC) at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, which was damaged in a Russian drone attack.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy said that  the funding will be channelled through the International Chornobyl Cooperation Account (ICCA), a special fund administered by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

“The funding will make it possible to restore the safety systems of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant following a Russian drone attack in February 2025, which damaged the New Safe Confinement covering the destroyed fourth reactor unit,” the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry also noted that the United States announced in late April that it would allocate $100 million for repairs to the Chernobyl confinement structure.

In addition, an agreement was signed with the EBRD during the International Chornobyl Conference on Recovery and Nuclear Safety, providing €30 million for the first phase of restoration work. International partners also made initial commitments amounting to nearly €100 million.

“We thank all international partners for their continued support and solidarity with Ukraine. These contributions are an important step toward strengthening nuclear and radiation safety not only in Ukraine, but across Europe,” First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said.

The additional funding is expected to contribute to ongoing efforts to restore critical safety infrastructure at the site and reinforce long-term nuclear and environmental security.

By Vafa Guliyeva