Global General

EU pledges $156 million for Chernobyl programs

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-04-18 23:00

KIEV, Ukraine - The European Union is pledging another euro110 million ($156 million) to programs to liquidate the consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant explosion.

The announcement Monday by European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso comes a day before donor nations are to meet to see if they can raise euro740 million for Chernobyl programs.

That is the sum that the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development estimates is still needed to build a long-term shelter over the reactor that exploded on April 26, 1986 and for a facility to store nuclear waste at Chernobyl.

Barroso said he would give details on how the donation is being apportioned on Tuesday.