EBRD announces April 26 signing of new deal to prepare for damaged Chornobyl New Safe Confinement restoration

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is preparing to sign an agreement in Ukraine this Sunday, April 26, for work and potentially the procurement of items to better assess damage to the New Safe Confinement (NSC) over the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant’s Unit 4 caused by a Russian drone strike, and to conduct detailed design scenarios for its full restoration.

This is indeed an important prerequisite for the kind of long-term work we need to perform, EBRD Associate Director Simon Evans, who has headed the Shelter Fund since 2009, told reporters at a briefing on Friday.

One of the key planned actions is an analysis of enhanced corrosion control, which is the primary risk for the NSC following the loss of its airtightness.

According to the expert, a detailed assessment of the confinement arch’s damage was conducted over six months immediately after the February 2025 drone strike together with the French companies Bouygues and Vinci, which were part of the Novarka consortium that built the NSC.

That is already completed, and the EBRD is now looking to expand that work with them to consider how the bank manages early procurement and some early engineering options for the long-term repair of the NSC’s functionality, Evans said.

He added that many Ukrainian companies and experts, as well as the Chornobyl NPP team, are also involved in the work.

Evans said that Ukrainian companies are currently continuing work focused on temporary repairs to the arch to minimize the risk of further degradation.

The EBRD representative emphasized that all these measures are taking place despite the military situation.

When it comes to the real long-term functional repair, which will involve a large volume of work, the bank will face difficulties, he said, expressing hope for a swift end to the war.

As reported, the EBRD is working to secure approximately EUR 500 million to fully restore the NSC in 2028-2030.

The bank has historically led global efforts to stabilize and manage risks at Chornobyl since 1995, mobilizing over EUR 2.5 billion in international contributions since then, including more than EUR 700 million of its own resources. However, following the February 14, 2025 Russian drone strike on the NSC, which was built over the old sarcophagus, and a subsequent internal fire, the NSC’s two main functions, containing radiological hazards and supporting long-term decommissioning, are under threat. The damage creates a significant risk of further collapse and corrosion of the main steel structure if not repaired.

The EBRD currently administers the International Chornobyl Cooperation Account (ICCA), established in 2021 as a supplementary fund to support risk reduction at the site. It supports dismantling, stabilization, safety improvement, monitoring, and urgent response measures. The ICCA currently has EUR 70 million in funding, including last year’s contributions from France, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.

The bank is working to find approximately EUR 500 million to fully restore the facility in 2028-2030. Official fundraising events for the repairs are expected closer to autumn.