Pripyat Blog

Shelter Implementation Plan

Shelter Implementation Plan (SIP) became the culmination of the efforts made by Ukraine and International Community toward development of economically and ecologically acceptable approach to resolve the Shelter problems. It was developed under cooperation of European Union Commission, Ukraine, USA and team of international experts and approved in June 1997 at G7 countries meeting.
The main project goal is Shelter object transformation into environmentally safe system with regard to personnel protection, radiological and environmental safety. SIP project consists of stabilization and other urgent measures and regular strategic measures development and implementation for step-by-step Shelter transformation into safe facility. Final SIP goal is new safe confinement (Shelter-2) erection and Shelter object unstable constructions dismantling.
28 Donors countries and European Commission pledged to allocate funds necessary for the project implementation into Chornobyl Shelter Fund (CSF), established according to Memorandum of Understanding and assigned to assist Ukraine in transformation of existing sarcophagus into safe and environmentally stable system by Shelter Implementation Plan realisation. Total cost of works performance according to more precise estimation makes 1091mln US$.
Project implementation
The first phase of the project lasted since 1998 up to mid 2000. That was the stage of investigations, development of strategies, programs, concept designs and preparatory works for the phase 2. In transitional period – since mid 2000 up to the beginning of 2001- the results of the undertaken investigations were reviewed and the program decisions were adopted. More then 30 companies from different countries and a number of key Ukrainian research institutes were involved in the activity within the first phase
Implementation of two emergency stabilization measures of the structure has become a considerable achievement. ChNPP Units 3 and 4 ventilation stack foundation and bracing were repaired in 1998, beams B1/B2, being the basic support for the sarcophagus roof were reinforced in 1999.
Besides the works, which contributed to the Shelter safety improvement and the development of infrastructure were carried out in the frames of the first phase
The second phase of the project implementation started since the beginning of 2001. First of all that was an activity, linked to unstable Shelter structures stabilization, installation and commissioning of monitoring systems, development and testing a technology for FCM removal, implementation of technical decisions on water and dust management, new safe confinement (NSC) construction and dismantling of Shelter unstable structures under a new protective enclosure. At SO and ChNPP site very difficult and, as a rule, unique and technically non-uniform activity has been done during Phase 2 implementation.
New Safe Confinement

New Safe Confinement (NSC) construction above the Shelter object is one of thee most important condition of the Shelter object transformation into ecologically safe system.
Confinement is a protective facility, included a complex of technological equipment for fuel containing materials removal out of the Chernobyl destroyed Unit 4 and for radioactive waste management and other systems, designed to perform the activity on the Unit transformation into environmentally safe site and to provide personnel, residents and environment safety According to Conceptual Design NSC includes:

- basic facility in an arch form with 257,44 m, with height of 108,39m and length –150m, foundations, western and eastern front walls, necessary auxiliary and supply systems;
- technological building with a site for decontamination, fragmentation and packing, sanitary locks, workshops and other technological premises;
- auxiliary facilities.
Fuel Containing Materials (FCM) removal and Waste Management Strategies development.
It isn’t sufficient to construct New Safe Confinement for Shelter object transformation into ecologically Safe System. FCM and Long-living RAW should be retrieved and disposed according to established norms. NSC construction without intention in future to remove these materials isn’t the problem solution, but only its shift on the further generation’s shoulders.
With this purpose FCM behaviour design-analytical model for 100 years outlook is under development since 2003.

via: Chernobyl

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