Ukraine`s Ecology Ministry has shared footage showing how a new structure – an arch more than 350 feet high and 500 feet long – is being slid into place over damaged Chornobyl reactor No. 4.
The structure, which is estimated at EUR 1.5 billion, weighs 36,000 tonnes, it`s the largest of this kind in the world.
The arch is designed to create a leak-tight barrier to contain radioactive substances for at least the next 100 years.
It was developed by Joint Venture NOVARKA. On November 14, the company started the process of the installation of the arch.
NOVARKA, a 50/50 joint venture formed by VINCI CONSTRUCTION and BOUYGUES TRAVAUX PUBLICS, is currently building the New Safe Confinement over the Unit 4 reactor in Chornobyl, which exploded on April 26, 1986.
According to archive data, at 01:23 on April 26, 1986, a reactor at power unit 4 of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant was completely destroyed in a series of thermal explosions. A significant amount of radioactive substances was released into the environment. The accident is regarded as the largest of its kind in the history of nuclear energy, both in terms of victims and the economic losses.
After the Chornobyl disaster, 116,000 people were evacuated from the affected areas, while another 230,000 people were resettled from the contaminated area. A total of 167,653 victims died, including 2,929 liquidators; 83% of victims, including 92% of the emergency response team, are suffering from various diseases.
