The regular Assemblies of Chernobyl Shelter Fund and Nuclear Safety Account contributing countries took place at Chernobyl NPP on November 29.
The main topic of the CSF Assembly discussion was a progress in New Safe Confinement construction project, the Arch of which is set in the design position over ChNPP Unit 4 destroyed due to beyond-design-basis accident.
Mr. Hans Blix, the Chairman of the Assembly of the Chernobyl Shelter Fund Contributors, has mentioned that NSC Arch sliding is really historical event since the New Safe Confinement would enable to protect Ukraine and the world in future against nuclear hazard: “After 30 years since tragedy, the pain and scale of losses are still biggish. However, the recovery process is being continued. Junction of two halves of the big arch, installation of mammoth cover over historical reactor is like repair of a wound, a nuclear wound, concerning us all.”
The representatives of contributing countries of the Nuclear Safety Account have reviewed the progress in ISF-2 construction project, in particular. The EBRD has presented the draft of Forty-Seventh Work Program for review and approval by the Assembly discussed previously during the meeting held on July 22 this year. During blitz interview to the news agency “Interfax-Ukraine” on November 29, 2016, Mr. Balthasar Lindauer, Deputy Director of EBRD’s Nuclear Safety Department, said: “Designing and most of construction works to store fuel from ChNPP Units 1-3 are completed. A part of required equipment is being delivered, another part is being tested. We expect that the integrated tests of whole equipment are to start in spring 2017. And we hope that we can proceed with hot trials by autumn”. A List of basic decisions and further actions was also approved discussed during the Assembly meeting dated July 22, 2016.
For reference
The International Chernobyl Shelter Fund (CSF) was established affiliated with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in order to implement the New Safe Confinement (NSC, Arch) Construction Project over the sarcophagus erected over destroyed Unit 4 of Chernobyl NPP in 1986. In autumn 1997, the Assembly of Contributors (Donors) of the Chernobyl Shelter Fund was established. It should be mentioned that twenty countries and the European Union announced their donor liabilities during the first month. Today, the Assembly of Contributors integrates 28 countries of the world. The Fund is managed by EBRD which is reported to the contributing countries relating to application of the Fund’s assets during the meeting of the Assembly of CSF Contributors.
After holding the international tender (bidding), a contract for design, construction and commissioning of NSC was concluded on August 10, 2007, between SSE Chernobyl NPP and International Consortium NOVARKA consisting of two French companies, i.e. VINCI Construction Grands Projets and Bouygues Travaux Publics. The main contractors are: CIMOLAI (Italy) – manufacturing of steel structures, PaR (USA) – designing and manufacturing of main cranes system, and OKYANUS (Turkey) – designing, delivery and installation of casing.
The EBRD is the Administrator of the Nuclear Safety Account Fund established upon proposal of G-7 countries in April 1993 initially for three years which was prolonged in April 1996. These assets are intended to improve safety and decommission the nuclear facilities in Bulgaria, Lithuania, Russia and Ukraine. The Fund is financed by means of grants for technical safety improvement of nuclear energy facilities, especially those functioning of which seems to be very risky. The Fund’s Contributors are Belgium, Great Britain, Denmark, EU, Italy, Canada, Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Finland, France, Switzerland and Japan.
