**Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant Confinement Reconstruction to Cost Millions**
The reconstruction of the confinement that covers the fourth reactor of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant will require significant financial investments, according to recent reports. The Guardian reported on May 7 that Russian forces struck the plant with a drone on February 14, breaking through the confinement and creating a 15-meter hole in it.
The attack also led to a fire that took nearly three weeks to extinguish. Experts have now warned that not fixing the damage is not an option. Eric Schmieman, an American engineer who worked on the design and structure of the Chornobyl shelter for 15 years, told the Guardian that a complete repair would cost “a minimum of tens of millions of dollars and it could easily go to hundreds of millions.” The repairs are expected to take months to years.
The current funds available from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) amount to 25 million euros ($28 million), which is not sufficient to address the problems caused by the attack. According to Schmieman, “significantly more funding is required” to restore the confinement. The reconstruction efforts are expected to be undertaken by governments of Western countries, including the UK.
**Background on the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant**
The New Safe Confinement (NSC), a nearly $2.3 billion structure consisting of two double arches, was completed in 2017. It covered the Soviet-era sarcophagus installed over the fourth reactor of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, where the accident occurred in 1986.
**Experts Weigh In**
Eric Schmieman’s assessment is echoed by other sources familiar with the situation. The need for significant funding to restore the confinement has sparked concerns about the adequacy of current resources. With millions of dollars required to complete the repairs, it remains unclear whether sufficient funds will be available in a timely manner.
As experts and governments work together to address this crisis, one thing is clear: not fixing the damage is not an option. The fate of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant confinement hangs in the balance as efforts are made to secure the necessary funding for its reconstruction.
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