Summary of G-7 efforts on nuclear safety in Ukraine (04/28/96)

Summary of G-7 efforts on nuclear safety in Ukraine

The following is the text of the State Department statement summarizing G-7 efforts to provide and coordinate nuclear safety assistance to Ukraine, released in Kyiv on March 19.

Since 1992, G-7 countries have donated over $122 million in nuclear safety assistance to Ukraine. G-7 assistance has been targeted at building training centers, conducting expert-level seminars and exchange programs for plant operators, and providing computers and analytical codes to enhance daily plant operational safety. G-7 members have also undertaken safety analyses, provided safety equipment, strengthened the national nuclear regulator, and assisted with radioactive waste management.

Most recently, on December 20, 1995, the G-7 reached an agreement with Ukraine establishing a program to close Chornobyl by the year 2000. The program includes the mobilization of some $3 billion in grants and loans to be used for power sector restructuring, energy sector investments, nuclear safety, and a plan addressing the social impact of Chornobyl's closure.

Many of the G-7's summits and expert-level meetings have included substantial discussion of the problems highlighted by Chornobyl. Some highlights:

July 1992 G-7 Munich Summit: The G-7 began coordinating safety assistance to Soviet-designated civilian reactors in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the newly independent states. It called on other countries to join this effort; established new institutions to coordinate assistance; and sought the support of international financial institutions (IFIs).

(a) The G-24 Nuclear Safety Assistance Coordination Center: A donor/recipient coordination group was tasked to identify priority safety needs and to facilitate the coordination of bilateral assistance programs.

(b) The Nuclear Safety Account (NSA): A multilateral fund was created to provide equipment and technology for urgent safety upgrades to the least safe reactors. The fund is administered by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and funded by 15 donor states.

(c) The IFIs: The G-7 requested that the World Bank, EBRD and the International Energy Agency (IEA) prepare a study on possible energy alternatives for less safe reactors.

1993 G-7 Tokyo Summit: The G-7 reviewed the completed energy studies and pressed IFIs to help countries develop long-term energy strategies that would allow the early closure of some reactors.
1994 G-7 Naples Summit: The G-7 countries pledged a total of $200 million in grant aid to strengthen Ukraine's energy sector and to close Chornobyl.
1995 G-7 Halifax Summit: The G-7 promised to mobilize additional international support for energy production, energy efficiency and nuclear safety projects to assist with the closure of Chornobyl.

G-7 nuclear safety projects for Ukraine

G-7 assistance to Ukraine is best summarized under the categories below. All funding figures are approximate and relate solely to G-7-only assistance. Other Western countries have also provided assistance. Examples of activities under way are provided for each category.

Improving daily operations for reactors: $36 million.

Provision of training and training materials to reactor operators and technical staff; conduct of operator exchange programs and seminars with Western operators; conduct of safety analyses, provision of analytical simulators, computers, safety codes; assistance in preparing better operating procedures; and assistance in preparing emergency response facilities.

Reactor equipment upgrades: $28 million.

Installation of Western safety equipment; provision of spare parts; and assistance in design and implementation of technical solutions for safety-shortcomings.

Strengthening the nuclear regulators: $20 million.

Provision of training and training materials for regulatory staff; conduct of exchange programs with Western regulatory staff; provision of analytical simulators, computers, safety codes, communication and data-base management equipment; and technical support for developing new licensing and review procedures.

Improved radioactive waste management: $11 million.

Provision of waste management training, transfer of waste management technology; provision of radiation monitoring/detection equipment and radiation hardened equipment for decontamination; assistance in power plant liquid waste treatment and in conducting radioactive waste assessments.

Improved spent-fuel management: $7 million.

Provision of dry-cask storage facilities for spent nuclear fuel and training for operators and regulators in use of the technology.

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