According to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the structural repairs needed for the containment cover over the disabled Chernobyl reactor are expected to be extremely costly. Balthasar Lindauer, the EBRD Director for the Nuclear Safety Program, informed Spiegel that the cost will be at least 500 million Euros, and potentially even higher.
These complex revitalization efforts are crucial for preserving the New Safe Confinement. Lindauer stressed that if the deadline is missed, the risk of irreparable corrosion damage to the steel structure looms, which would significantly inflate the eventual costs. The timeline established is challenging: work must begin by the close of 2027 and be concluded by 2030.
The current structural damage was significantly worsened by a drone attack in February 2025. Lindauer noted that the membranes-which are vital for keeping radioactive parts inside while keeping moisture out-have been extensively ruined and must be completely restored.
Meanwhile, areas around Reactor 4 remain highly radioactive, meaning that personnel can only be in certain parts for brief periods. Due to the intensity of the radiation in the most heavily contaminated zones, routine personnel rotations will be required by the team. Lindauer acknowledged that the schedule is ambitious, but emphasized that there is no choice but to adhere to it.
