nuclear-news

Unstable Chernobyl structure means risk of radiation catastrophe

the structure has become extremely unstable, with experts warning that if it collapses, a catastrophic amount of radiation could be released into the atmosphere.

Fears over new leak at Chernobyl spark plea for radiation shield –   The Independent. By Shaun Walker in Chernobyl 28 February 2011 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…… 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 today, there is a 20-mile “exclusion zone” around the Chernobyl power plant where inhabitation is prohibited.

Fears over new leak at Chernobyl spark plea for radiation shield – Europe, World – The Independent

March 1, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, Ukraine