Works on draining of central halls’ cooling pools are in progress. These unique works are being performed at RBMK units for the first time, since Chernobyl NPP is the first NPP with reactors of this type which has reached the stage of decommissioning.

Currently, cooling pools of power units 2 and 3 of the plant have already been drained. The purpose of these activities is in confirming the capability of storing active special items, accumulated during the units’ operation period, in cooling pools without filling them with water (operation of cooling pools as “drywells for special items storage”).

It should be noted that, protective covers have been installed on the cooling pools containing highly active special items, which ensure biological protection from ionizing radiation for personnel which perform works in central halls. Radiation conditions in central halls are within the reference levels.

The corresponding preparatory work is carried out at Unit 1. Currently, this Unit is undergoing preparatory works for the installation of protective covering on the cooling pools, and their further draining.

Operation of the pools as "drywells for storage of special items" would substantially reduce the cost of maintaining the water chemistry and temperature in them, the cost of space heating with water-filled equipment in winter, as well as reduce the risk of damage to equipment in the event of emergencies in heating mains of ChNPP industrial site.