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    Intergovernmental Agreement between Norway and Ukraine about cooperation in the field of Nuclear and Radiation Safety, Chernobyl NPP decommissioning and "Shelter" object transformation into ecologically safe system was signed on November 30, 2012 in Oslo.

    Agreement has been signed by Deputy Minister of Emergencies Ministry of Ukraine Mr Vladimir Sirotin and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Mr Espen Barth Eide.

    Signing of the Agreement will contribute to the optimization of Chernobyl NPP Units decommissioning process and implementation of the tasks aimed on completion of the "Shelter" object transformation into an ecologically safe system, currently not included into Shelter Implementation Plan, in particular SO Fuel Containing Materials Management.

    Signing of the Agreement with the Government of the Norway Kingdom enlarges the frames of the activity due to international technical assistance, provides possibility to the parties to share experiences and knowledge in the field of decommissioning and liquidation of the beyond design accidents consequences.

    Chernobyl NPP is now at the final stage of its life cycle - the stage of decommissioning, which will continue until 2065. Under condition of such long-term activity the process of information preservation and transfer to future generations of specialists who will work at the final stages of decommissioning is of special importance.

    To resolve this problem ChNPP places expectations on existing in Norway experience and developed technology. That will significantly reduce labor inputs, doses to personnel, improve the efficiency and safety of dismantling work, including "Shelter" object dismantling and Fuel Containing Materials Management.

    Assistance under this Agreement will be based on individual projects, such as, for example, establishment of Chernobyl NPP decommissioning Visualization Centre. This Center will be used for planning, training and implementation of procedures for the personnel, authorities and public. Center will contribute in fulfillment of Chernobyl NPP needs to improve the safety of the personnel and more efficient use of resources. Moreover, the staff will be able to plan and control the radiation dose and obtain visualization of radiation scenarios for planning and training.

    For information:

    Norway is a contributor to Chernobyl Shelter Fund and Nuclear Safety Account, established for financing of Shelter Implementation Plan, construction of Liquid Radioactive Waste Treatment Plant and Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility.

    Cooperation between Chernobyl NPP and Energy Technology Institute (IFE) of Norway - International Research Foundation for Energy and Nuclear Technology was started in 2006. It was aimed on modeling and simulating situations at three undamaged Chernobyl NPP reactors and development of Visualization Technology by IFE Institute.

    In August 2012, SSE Chernobyl NPP has reported that cracks were discovered in the individual elements of New Ventilation Stack (NVS) structure. The NVS has not yet been commissioned and is under the responsibility of the Building Contractor. A periodic monitoring of NVS steel structure elements position is being performed.

    For the purpose of identifying the causes for the cracks and making recommendations for their repair, several Ukrainian and international specialized expert organizations are currently carrying out comprehensive studies of the steel New Ventilation Stack structures at ChNPP. They have already provided some of their respective reports to the Employer, and they are being analyzed by the designer. As soon as the experts agree upon the root causes for the cracks, the designer performing the function of the Engineer-of-Record Supervisor for the construction will issue recommendations for the defects repair.

    The Designer will determine the specific repair solution, upon which SSE ChNPP will issue a Technical Decision to eliminate defects and submit it to the Ukrainian Regulatory Authorities for concurrence.

    Since this process not yet complete, it is premature to conclude the cause of the cracks or specify the measures for their elimination.

    In August 2012, SSE Chernobyl NPP has reported that cracks were discovered in the individual elements of New Ventilation Stack (NVS) structure. The NVS has not yet been commissioned and is under the responsibility of the Building Contractor. A periodic monitoring of NVS steel structure elements position is being performed.

    For the purpose of identifying the causes for the cracks and making recommendations for their repair, several Ukrainian and international specialized expert organizations are currently carrying out comprehensive studies of the steel New Ventilation Stack structures at ChNPP. They have already provided some of their respective reports to the Employer, and they are being analyzed by the designer. As soon as the experts agree upon the root causes for the cracks, the designer performing the function of the Engineer-of-Record Supervisor for the construction will issue recommendations for the defects repair.

    The Designer will determine the specific repair solution, upon which SSE ChNPP will issue a Technical Decision to eliminate defects and submit it to the Ukrainian Regulatory Authorities for concurrence.

    Since this process not yet complete, it is premature to conclude the cause of the cracks or specify the measures for their elimination.

    Today is 26 years as Shelter Object was accepted for operation. It was constructed over ChNPP Unit 4 that had been destroyed by the beyond-design-basis accident. The State Commission’s Certificate on acceptance of the preserved Chernobyl NPP Unit No.4 for maintenance was signed on November 30, 1986.

     

    The accident, happened at the Chernobyl NPP on April 26, 1986, by its scales and consequences has become the largest and the most severe catastrophe in the history of power energy. The explosion destroyed the reactor core, protective barriers and safety systems. By development of the 4th Unit destruction processes and by magnitude of its consequences the accident refers to the 7th level according to the International Nuclear Events Scale (INES).

    The Shelter construction was started following the State Commission’s decision of May 22, 1986, on the long-term preservation of the fourth ChNPP Unit to prevent radionuclide release into the environment and reduce radiation impact on the ChNPP industrial site.

    Over a short period of time eighteen options for the future Shelter design were elaborated. The one was selected that maximally used structures of the destroyed Power Unit. 90 thousand people was directly involved into the construction activities. In total about 200 thousand people was involved into the activities on the accident consequences liquidation within the ChNPP area during 1986-1987. 400 thousand cubic meters of concrete mix and 7,000 tones of metal structures were utilized for the Shelter construction.

    The Shelter Object was constructed only within 206 days. It enabled in the shortest possible time to reduce the negative impact of the destroyed Power Unit on the environment, perform activities on remediation and commissioning of ChNPP Units No.1 and No.2 on the same year.

     

    On November 27, 2012, a meeting of top management of the Chernobyl Shelter Fund took place with participation of the officials from EBRD, SIP PMU, NOVARKA Consortium, Exclusion Zone Management Agency, and SSE ChNPP.

    This day as well, EBRD jointly with SSE ChNPP organized the visit of national and international mass media representatives to ChNPP site to inform world community about progress in New Safe Confinement construction implementation.

    On November 24, 2012, the east part of the Arch having 5,300 tonnes of weight was initially raised up to 22 metres on Chernobyl NPP Shelter site. Totally, such lifting will be made three times, and after the last one, the Arch structures will be in their design positions. After this, the east part will be moved towards the Shelter to the holding area, and assembling of the west part will start on released site. Fabricated parts will be put together and slid over the Shelter Object. When fully assembled the New Safe Confinement structure will have a length of 257 metres, a width of 164 metres, a height of 110 metres and a weight of 29,000 tonnes.

    1. Mass Media Briefing
    2. Visit to Chernobyl NPP
    3. Visit to Chernobyl NPP
    4. Another Success in Constructing the NSC

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