American Priorities in Chornobyl

A similar topic was discussed during the visit to Ukraine by the US Deputy Secretary of Energy T. Jay Glauthier. As part of the Chornobyl station safety-building project, the US Department of Energy finances 18 programs worth about $50 million. This includes building a compensating commercial heating boiler room ($20 million), commissioning a safety metering system and a simulator for operators, funding a part of work to reinforce the Shelter, etc.

The American guest talked about the partnership of both countries' nuclear experts with Vitaly Tolstonohov, general manager of the Chornobyl nuclear power station. T. Jay Glauthier and US Ambassador in Ukraine Steven Pifer attended a demonstration of the radiation-proof remote control mobile robot Pioneer near the Sarcophagus. Mr. Glauthier discussed cooperation plans with Slavutych Mayor Volodymyr Udovychenko, participated in a direct space video link with the US city of Richland and in the inauguration ceremony of the International Radioecological Laboratory. A document was signed on Ukraine's affiliation with the Globe program initiated in 1994 by US Vice President Albert Gore, The Day's Volodymyr KOSTENKO reports.