BBC News Online: World: Europe

UK promises help to close Chernobyl

The United Kingdom will give Ukraine nearly $17m towards the cost of encasing the nuclear reactor at the Chernobyl power plant which exploded in 1986, causing the world's worst nuclear accident.

Money may also be made available to help build two other reactors in Ukraine, thus enabling the total closure of Chernobyl by the end of the year.

The announcement was made by the UK Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook, who is on an official visit to Ukraine.

The condition of the Chernobyl power station has been one of the thorniest issues in Ukraine's relations with the West since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Kiev acknowledges that the damaged reactor number four must be completely sealed off and the whole power station shut down.

But it says that it cannot do this until two other reactors are brought on line in order to make up for the capacity which will be lost by taking Chernobyl out of service.

New reactors

And, as Mr Cook acknowleged, the Ukrainian economy is not strong enough to be able to cope with the cost.

Mr Cook hopes that the aid Britain is giving Ukraine will enable the Chernobyl shut-down to go ahead as planned.

He said the UK may also make money available to fund new reactors, at Rivne and Khmelnitsky.

The US has previously announced a donation of over $120,000 for various scientific projects in Ukraine - including one studying the continuing effects on the environment of the Chernobyl disaster.