Arch to be built over Chernobyl to safeguard citizens from radioactive dust

Ukranian Government on 28 April 2014 announced to build a arch over Chernobyl to protect its citizens from radioactive dust. The arch is being built to mark the 28th anniversary of Chernobyl disaster.

The 32000 tonne arch made from sheathed stainless steel will be pushed on Teflon pads to cover the site. It is planned to be completed by 2017.

The construction of Chernobyl arch will cost 1.5 billion US dollar. The cost will be financed largely by the US and about 30 other nations. The construction will be done by Novarka. Novarka is the consortium of French construction companies.

Engineers have designed the Chernobyl arch to stand for 100 years.

Importance of Chernobyl Tomb

•    The arch will eliminate the risk of additional atmospheric contamination.

•    The arch will remove the lingering threat of radioactive fallouts.

•    The arch will also allow the final stage of the Chernobyl clean up to remove the heavily contaminated reactor debris for permanent safe storage.

About Chernobyl Disaster

The Chernobyl disaster was a catastrophic nuclear accident that occurred on 26 April 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine.

The April 1986 disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine was the product of a flawed Soviet reactor design coupled with serious mistakes made by the plant operators.

The Chernobyl disaster was a unique event and the only accident in the history of commercial nuclear power where radiation-related fatalities occurred.