Chernobyl disaster site 'close to being declared safe' 20 years after nuclear accident

The construction of a new confinement system on the site of the Chernobyl disaster is nearing completion, meaning the site could soon be designated ‘safe’ 20 years after the nuclear disaster.

The building will act as a large-scale shelter to protect the remains of Chernobyl’s reactor 4, which caused unprecedented nuclear fallout when it exploded in April 1986.

Since the explosion, the area has remained largely inhabitable due to high radioactivity levels, but it is now hoped that the confinement system will effectively entomb the reactor to prevent further damage to the environment.

Among the features of the new shelter are a ventilation system to prevent corrosion and increase its lifespan, along with constant pressure levels to prevent the release of radioactive dust particles into the atmosphere.

The structure is 108 metres high and boasts a frame made of steel and concrete beams and has also been designed to withstand earthquakes of up to six on the Richter Scale.

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Nuclear Safety expert Vince Novak said: ‘Strong progress has been made in difficult circumstances. The work on the end wall took place in an environment of heightened radiation and we are very proud that it was finished without any accidents and negative impact on the workforce.

‘Meanwhile the installation of the ventilation system and the high-tech crane create the preconditions for future decommissioning operations. While we are pleased with what has been achieved, more remains to be done and we are fully committed to finish the job safely and on cost and schedule.’

The Chernobyl disaster was caused by a flawed Soviet reactor and saw at least five percent of the radioactive reactor core being released into the atmosphere.

Two workers died on the night of the accident, while a further 28 people died within a few weeks as a direct result of acute radiation poisoning.