Fears over new leak at Chernobyl spark plea for radiation shield

[irishspirit]

By Shaun Walker in Chernobyl

Monday, 28 February 2011

http://www.independent.co.uk/multimedia/dynamic/00566/26-Chernobyl_566186t.jpg (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/fears-over-new-leak-at-chernobyl-spark-plea-for-radiation-shield-2227550.html?action=Popup) GETTY IMAGES
Workers at the Chernobyl site last week. The last reactor closed in 2000


Fears that the destroyed nuclear reactor at Chernobyl could collapse and again leak deadly radiation have prompted European agencies to seek hundreds of millions of pounds to fund the construction of a vast steel building to encase the site.
As the 25th anniversary of the worst nuclear accident in history approaches, there is a funding shortfall of €740m (£631m) for projects to build a "shelter" over the destroyed reactor and to safely store nuclear fuel from the other nuclear reactors at the site.


The new shelter for the destroyed reactor is being funded by the European Union and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in co-operation with the Ukrainian government, but European officials say they urgently need countries to pledge money for the project, which is under way but underfunded. They hope that a conference in April, ahead of the anniversary of the disaster, will see governments donate the missing funds


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/fears-over-new-leak-at-chernobyl-spark-plea-for-radiation-shield-2227550.html

[Swami]

Fears that the destroyed nuclear reactor at Chernobyl could collapse and again leak deadly radiation have prompted European agencies to seek hundreds of millions of pounds to fund the construction of a vast steel building to encase the site.

As the 25th anniversary of the worst nuclear accident in history approaches, there is a funding shortfall of €740m (£631m) for projects to build a "shelter" over the destroyed reactor and to safely store nuclear fuel from the other nuclear reactors at the site.


http://www.independent.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00566/26-Chernobyl_566186a.jpg


In recent years, the structure has become extremely unstable, with experts warning that if it collapses, a catastrophic amount of radiation could be released into the atmosphere. Stopgap stabilising work on one of the walls of the sarcophagus has reduced the chances of collapse and extended its life by around 15 years, but this might not be enough to prevent a disaster.

"Even after the stabilisation activity, there's still potential for the partial or complete collapse of the object shelter," said Laurin Dodd, the head of the Shelter Implementation Plan at Chernobyl. "It's only once we get the new structure in place that we can say it's safe."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/fears-over-new-leak-at-chernobyl-spark-plea-for-radiation-shield-2227550.html

[Ross]

5241



Giant steel arch to contain reactor destroyed in 1986 accident
Arch supersedes crumbling concrete casing protecting site now
Five year project expected to cost $1.4bn (£700m)
Arch will be 190m (623ft) wide and 200m (656ft) long
Construction by French company Novarka


This may do the trick...for a while...

Ross

[Gone002]

will we ever learn, the next time lets do it right.