On 23rd March 2016 a press tour for the Ukrainian and foreign journalists to the Chernobyl NPP was organized on the initiative of EBRD. The main objective of the visit was familiarization with status of the international projects being implemented at the ChNPP site and coverage of the progress of the New Safe Confinement (NSC) construction project within the framework of preparation for the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl accident.

On 21st March the Chernobyl NPP was visited for information purposes by a delegation led by the Federal Minister for the Environment, Natural Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety of Germany Mrs. Barbara Hendricks.

Nuclear safety issues and efficient implementation of G7 tasks on transformation of the ChNPP facilities into a safe state were discussed within the framework of the joint visit with the participation of Acting Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine Mrs. Hanna Vronska, Head of the State Agency of Ukraine on the Exclusion Zone Management Mr. Vitalii Petruk and Chairman of the SNRIU Mr. Serhii Bozhko.

The State Nuclear Regulatory Authority issued to the State Specialized Enterprise Chernobyl NPP an individual permission of Series ED No.000033\10 for operation of the Integrated Automated Monitoring System (IAMS) of the Shelter Object.

The IAMS is designed for automated monitoring of the Shelter conditions and improvement of nuclear, radiation and general occupational safety of this object including emergency preparedness.

On March 11, a meeting of Joint Committee “Ukraine – European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)” was held relating to implementation of international assistance projects on preparing Chernobyl NPP for decommissioning and Shelter transformation into environmentally safe system funded from Nuclear Safety Account and Chernobyl Shelter Fund administrated by EBRD on the instructions of donor countries.

On 12th March 2016 the ChNPP industrial site was visited by EBRD’s Acting Vice President for Policy and Partnerships Mr. Alain Pilloux accompanied by Managing Director for Eastern Europe and the Caucasus Mr. Francis Malige and Director of Nuclear Safety Department Mr. Vince Novak, and by other official representatives of EBRD. 

The visit was made at the invitation of a directorate of Novarka, the company which is constructing the New Safe Confinement at the site. It should be reminded that this project is financed from the funds accumulated by donor countries into the Chernobyl Shelter Fund and administrated by the EBRD.