Wed Oct 16 07:10:00 UTC 2024: ## Chernobyl Shelter Project Enters New Phase: Dismantling of Unstable Structures Begins
**Chernobyl, Ukraine** – The project to secure the initial shelter built around Chernobyl’s Unit 4 reactor after the 1986 disaster has entered a new phase. This crucial step focuses on determining which parts of the shelter require immediate dismantling and which need stabilization to ensure the site’s long-term safety.
Funding for this project is provided by the International Chernobyl Cooperation Account, with the goal of defining the scope of early deconstruction work for the unstable structures. This includes an initial cost estimate and the start of design work for the next stage, encompassing the dismantling of fragile structures.
The original “sarcophagus” was erected just months after the accident to contain the radioactive materials of the destroyed reactor. While a reinforced structure was completed in 2008, the maximum lifespan of the stabilized structures was estimated to end in 2023. The license for storing radioactive waste within the shelter was extended to 2029, imposing a deadline of 2025 for developing a new design aimed at dismantling unstable structures.
The New Safe Confinement (NSC), built in 2017, allows engineers to remotely dismantle the 1986 shelter. This will facilitate the removal of fuel-containing materials at the bottom of the reactor building, marking a significant step in eliminating the nuclear hazard at the site.
The NSC, the largest movable land-based structure ever built, is designed for a lifespan of 100 years and can withstand extreme weather conditions and seismic activity. It allows for the eventual dismantling of the 1986 shelter and the management of radioactive waste.
The project is led by UTEM-Engineering LLC, which will revise the criteria and requirements for the NSC infrastructure to support the dismantling process. This involves developing technical specifications for lifting equipment, systems for processing dismantled structures, and engineering and control systems for the second phase of the project.
This new phase represents a crucial step towards the long-term safety of the Chernobyl site and the eventual elimination of the nuclear hazard. It marks the beginning of the dismantling process and the ultimate goal of ensuring the site’s safety for future generations.
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