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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--One of the world's largest engineering projects has been completed with the placement of the giant shield over the destroyed nuclear reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear site in Ukraine.
The massive steel and concrete arch, which weighs 36,000 tonnes, was slid into place over Reactor 4 during a five-day journey across the site. As the world's largest moveable land-based structure, the New Safe Confinement (NSC) arch stands 110 metres tall, is 165 metres long and has an arch span of 257 metres. The cost of the arch alone stands at 1.5 billion euro ($1.6 billion), funded mostly by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
An explosion and fire at the Unit 4 reactor in 1986 killed more 30 people and forced the permanent evacuation of 100,000 people from the surrounding area. The melted reactor left significant amounts of material containing nuclear fuel in the lower floors of the building, which have been covered with a temporary cover ever since. Industrial Info reported on the final phase of the NSC last year. For additional information, see March 24, 2015, article - Chernobyl Nuclear Cover Enters Final Phase.
"The sliding is done with help of a special skidding system that consists of 224 hydraulic jacks to push the arch 60 centimetres each stroke," the EBRD explained. "It is anticipated that the total skid time will be around 40 hours of operation spread over a period of up to 5 days."
It added: "The NSC was constructed in a clean area near Reactor 4 of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and will be slid over 327 metres to seal off the unit. It will make the site safe and allow for the eventual dismantling of the aging shelter currently housing the reactor and the management of the radioactive waste within the structure."
Ukraine's ecology minister, Ostap Semerak, commented: "The start of the sliding of the arch over Reactor 4 at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is the beginning of the end of a 30-year long fight with the consequences of the 1986 accident. The credit for construction of this one-of-a-kind technological structure goes to an expert team of engineers and builders."
"The fact that more than 40 contributing countries and donor countries united around the goal of protecting humanity from the radioactive consequences of the tragedy is another demonstration that environmental safety remains a priority for global policymakers. And I believe that the transformation of the exclusion zone into a safe area will demonstrate the change in Ukraine's overall environmental policy, too."
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, five offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Our European headquarters are located in Galway, Ireland. Follow IIR Europe on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn For more information on our European coverage send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.eu or visit us online at Industrial Info Europe.
The massive steel and concrete arch, which weighs 36,000 tonnes, was slid into place over Reactor 4 during a five-day journey across the site. As the world's largest moveable land-based structure, the New Safe Confinement (NSC) arch stands 110 metres tall, is 165 metres long and has an arch span of 257 metres. The cost of the arch alone stands at 1.5 billion euro ($1.6 billion), funded mostly by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
An explosion and fire at the Unit 4 reactor in 1986 killed more 30 people and forced the permanent evacuation of 100,000 people from the surrounding area. The melted reactor left significant amounts of material containing nuclear fuel in the lower floors of the building, which have been covered with a temporary cover ever since. Industrial Info reported on the final phase of the NSC last year. For additional information, see March 24, 2015, article - Chernobyl Nuclear Cover Enters Final Phase.
"The sliding is done with help of a special skidding system that consists of 224 hydraulic jacks to push the arch 60 centimetres each stroke," the EBRD explained. "It is anticipated that the total skid time will be around 40 hours of operation spread over a period of up to 5 days."
It added: "The NSC was constructed in a clean area near Reactor 4 of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and will be slid over 327 metres to seal off the unit. It will make the site safe and allow for the eventual dismantling of the aging shelter currently housing the reactor and the management of the radioactive waste within the structure."
Ukraine's ecology minister, Ostap Semerak, commented: "The start of the sliding of the arch over Reactor 4 at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is the beginning of the end of a 30-year long fight with the consequences of the 1986 accident. The credit for construction of this one-of-a-kind technological structure goes to an expert team of engineers and builders."
"The fact that more than 40 contributing countries and donor countries united around the goal of protecting humanity from the radioactive consequences of the tragedy is another demonstration that environmental safety remains a priority for global policymakers. And I believe that the transformation of the exclusion zone into a safe area will demonstrate the change in Ukraine's overall environmental policy, too."
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, five offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Our European headquarters are located in Galway, Ireland. Follow IIR Europe on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn For more information on our European coverage send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.eu or visit us online at Industrial Info Europe.
