Chernobyl nuclear power plants "sarcophagus" together with a huge shelter to cover the woods, work took 5 days to move the whole

ByEuropean Bank for Reconstruction and Development

On November 14, 2016 in Ukraine with the Chernobyl nuclear power plant that caused "the worst nuclear accident in history" in 1986, work to further cover the nuclear power plant including the "sarcophagus" covering the nuclear reactor with a huge shelter Has been started. The shelter has a width of 275 meters, a length of 162 meters, a height of 108 meters, and the total weight is a huge structure of as much as 36,000 tons.

Major step in unique engineering project as Chernobyl arch slides into place
http://www.ebrd.com/news/2016/major-step-in-unique-engineering-project-chernobyl-arch-slides-into-place-.html

Chernobyl disaster: Giant shield begins move towards reactor - BBC News
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37978482

The overall picture of the shelter built. It is made of concrete and iron, the top is covered with a gentle arch.

ByEuropean Bank for Reconstruction and Development

I saw the shelter from the front. An opening is made according to the shape of the sarcophagus, and it seems that it is a structure that closes like a lid on the front when it arrives at the final position. In addition, the shelter is placed on the rail at the base of the arch, so that the whole can move.

ByEuropean Bank for Reconstruction and Development

You can see that the interior has a steel structure.

ByEuropean Bank for Reconstruction and Development

Inside appearance taken in September 2015 during shelter construction. You can see how big it is.

ByEuropean Bank for Reconstruction and Development

It occurred in April 1986Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident, An extremely serious accident that one of the four nuclear reactors fell into control and the nuclear fuel meltdown (core melting) occurred, the nuclear reactor exploded and a large amount of radioactive substances were released into the atmosphere was.

ByEuropean Bank for Reconstruction and Development

In order to prevent scattering of radioactive material, a concrete building called "sarcophagus" was created at an abrupt pitch after the accident. However, aging has been conspicuous over 30 years since the accident, and the risk that the sarcophagus itself will collapse was pointed out from now on. In order to prevent further damage, it is this huge shelter that was built to cover the whole generation for generations in the future.

ByEuropean Bank for Reconstruction and Development

One piece that understands the positional relationship and size of shelter and sarcophagus. From this state the whole shelter will move and cover the sarcophagus with the spruce.

ByEuropean Bank for Reconstruction and Development

The rail part supporting and moving the 36,000 ton shelter

ByEuropean Bank for Reconstruction and Development

A hydraulic jack is attached to the shelter in a sideways direction, and it is a mechanism to move while pushing the whole little by little.

ByEuropean Bank for Reconstruction and Development

The situation that the jack is activated and actually started moving is included in the following time lapse movie.

Major step in unique engineering project as Chernobyl arch slides into place - YouTube


The following movies summarize the scene of the site where the construction of the shelter is proceeding and the picture of the interior of the Chernobyl nuclear plant that has become ruined.

Authorities at Chernobyl Prepare to Seal off Reactor Building With New Steel Structure - YouTube


This project is being promoted by the budget from the investor, mainly the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), with a total cost of EUR 1.5 billion (about 170 billion yen). It is planned to move the shelter over 4 days and complete the installation by November 29, 2016. Ukraine 's Environment Minister Ostap - Semeraak said about this project "The end of the 30 - year battle that has continued since the accident occurred in 1986 is beginning." In addition, the EBRD states that the construction and installation of a huge shelter is "one of the most ambitious projects in engineering history."

In Flickr of EBRD, you can see the construction in general and material pictures of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

EBRD Project: Ukraine - Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant | Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ebrd/sets/72157635398132162