Norway will invest about 21.5 million euros in Ukraine’s nuclear security in response to concerns raised at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant after the collapse of the dam, the Norwegian government announced on Monday.
“The illegal war initiated by Russia poses a threat to nuclear security in Ukraine,” the Norwegian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“A nuclear accident in Ukraine will have consequences not only for Ukraine itself, but also beyond its borders,” he added.
The aid will be divided between a contribution of 100 million crowns (about 8.6 million euros) to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to enable its experts to maintain a presence at various nuclear sites in Ukraine, including Chernobyl and Zaporozhye, and 150 million kroons (about 12.9 million euros) to improve the safety of installations.
The amount will be taken from the “Nansen programme”, a multi-year aid plan that provides for Norway to allocate 75 billion crowns (about 6400 million euros) in civilian and military assistance to Ukraine during the period 2023-2027.
The announcement comes amid concerns over the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, which has been occupied by the Russians since last year after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam on the Dnieper, Ukraine’s great river, whose water was used to cool its six reactors.
The situation at the test site is serious, but is in the process of stabilizing, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi assured during a visit to the test site on Thursday.
The IAEA has a permanent team of specialists at this plant, which has also been bombed and cut off from the power grid several times.
Moscow and Kiev accuse each other of destroying the June 6 dam of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station, located in Russian-controlled territory, flooding towns and villages on both banks of the Dnieper, killing dozens and forcing thousands to flee their homes.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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