26.04.2007
“Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant disaster:
the 21 year of human endeavor to overcome the consequences”
The 21-th year expires since Chornobyl nuclear power plant disaster. It entered
the history of civilization development as a sad and tragic page in scientific
and technological progress in the 20-th century. Mankind did not know such
technogenic and ecological disaster. The Ukrainian land became the epicenter
of nuclear disaster.
Chornobyl nuclear power plant at the beginning of 80-s of XX century was one
of the greatest nuclear plants of Europe, and was named after V.I.Lenin and
considered to be the pride of former Soviet Union. It was situated in the
town of Pripyat in 160 km from Kyiv.
At the 26th of April, 1986 because of the violation of exploitation rate on
the 4th reactor of ChNPP, at 1:23 AM a tremendous explosion had rattled and
hundreds kilograms of radioactive substances, and also the mass of crushed
metal and concrete constructions had blown up. That time wind blew from the
East radiation began extending to the West and resulted in contamination of
200 000 square kilometers in Europe by cesium and strontium nuclides. Ukraine,
Belarus and Russia account for 70% of this territory. The increase in background
radioactivity was registered also in other countries.
Journalists and scientists called crashed reactor “the wounded beast”, which
was very perilous and it was needed “to jump down his throat”.
By the order from “top” mass media of USSR kept a silence about this great
technological catastrophe and only after the 3 days in the central press a
little official announcement appeared. It was called “From the Cabinet of
Ministers of USSR”.
But the whole world raised the alarm. Radiation, if uncontrolled respects
neither state borders nor politics. It was impossible to hide and to be silent.
When the situation became clear, USSR government couldn’t indifferently observe
situation. On the 13th of May, 1986, “Pravda” newspaper published the appeal
of General secretary M. S. Gorbachov.
Scientists quickly measured the radioactive background and immediately recommended
to evacuate people from the main destruction 30 km zones. Law machinery of
Pripyat region was the first, who responded.
There were a lot of difficulties. Most of people didn’t want to leave their
homes (sometimes new and comfortable) with the hand luggage and meal for 3
days. But they were to obey.
Pripyat, where the ChNPP is situated was a very beautiful and comfortable
town. And after the evacuation this place created the depressed impression
of a mortal town. Especially this feeling is increasing during the helicopter
shooting.
The first to suffered from the impact of the nuclear catastrophe, were the
operators in the central hall of Chornobyl NPP and a team of firemen from
Pripyat under the command of Lieutenant Victor Kibenok. Those firemen fulfilled
their duty to the utmost. They numbered 28, those heroes who were the first
to enter the blaze.
Totally more than 3.5 million people suffered the consequences of the Chornobyl
accident if Ukraine. Nearly half of them are children. About 600 000 people
are classified as Chornobyl accident liquidators.
Crashed reactor smoked for a long time, because there had been left a lot
of radioactive fuel, and military helicopters flung thousands tones of special
mixes in his crater to extinguish radioactive remains.
On the 15th of December 2000 there was a closing of Chernobyl NPP. Now the
plant building is the sorrowful architectural monument.
Elimination of disaster aftermath forced government authorities to involve
significant human and financial resources. However, the circle of related
urgent problems is still extremely broad. Many years of research into the
conditions and problems of the Shelter showed that the dangers associated
with the existing shelter could be significantly reduced by erecting a new
safe confinement (NSC) that would be slid over the Object.
This building will comprise a complex of technological equipment for removing
fuel-containing materials from Unit 4, and radioactive waste handling and
other systems, thus achieving the objective of transforming the unit into
an environmentally safe system and providing safe conditions for personnel,
population and the environment.
In accordance with the conceptual design the NSC will be an arch structure
with a span of 260 meters, height of 109 meters and length of 150 meters.
It will be provided with all support and auxiliary systems including decontamination
facilities, sanitary locks, workshops, and other technological areas.
Nuclear, radiological and general industrial safety within the NSC will be
maintained through systems of control over radiation safety, seismic conditions
and structural integrity. Ventilation, fire safety and physical safety control
systems will be established there also together with telephone and TV networks.
The plan to perform the work of the Shelter Object is only a part of what
is necessary to transform the Object into an environmental safe system, After
the completion of stabilization and construction of the NSC the time will
come to start the equally important but complicated work to dismantle the
old Shelter. This work needs considerable financial expenses. The dangers
hidden within the Sarcophagus can only be overcome by bringing together the
world’s scientific knowledge and advanced technologies augmented by the human
factor.
More than 20 years has been passed from the moment of Chornobyl Disaster.
But memoró about it still in hearts and souls of Ukrainians and all peoples
of goodwill all around the world. Ukraine hopes to overcome all the consequences
of the Chornobyl Disaster and counts on the understanding and support of the
international community in this field.