Chernobyl 25 years on: New Safe Confinement and Spent Fuel Storage Facility

The New Safe Confinement Scene from , town closest to site of accident

Reactor 4 after the explosion

26 April 2011 marks the 25th anniversary of the accident at the International contributions nuclear power plant. Since then and the international community The plan to make the site of the have been working on overcoming the legacy of the accident and converting 1986 accident safe is funded by the Chernobyl into a safe and secure site. Recognising the magnitude of the task, EBRD managed Chernobyl Shelter the international community has supported Ukraine continuously in efforts to Fund. To-date the Fund has received find solutions for Chernobyl. €864 million from 30 donors. After the shutdown of the last The construction of the New Safe Funding of the Interim Storage operating reactor in Chernobyl in Confinement (NSC) is an unparalleled Facility 2 is provided through the 2000, today two major technical project in the history of engineering. Nuclear Safety Account. To-date tasks remain to be accomplished: With a height of more than 100 it has received €321 million from The first is to make the destroyed unit metres it would be big enough to 17 donors. 4 environmentally safe. The second is house the Statue of Liberty. The new to safely and securely store the spent structure will be assembled on site, New Safe Confinement nuclear fuel from reactors 1-3. This is but away from the highly radioactive one of the most important stages of unit 4 and then slid in place, covering A new structure which will be slid the decommisioning of these units. the remains of the reactor building over the shelter of unit 4 to allow for and the old shelter. the future decommissioning of the damaged reactor. The New Safe Confinement will have a span of 257 metres, a length of 164 metres, a height of 110 metres Nuclear Safety web site www.ebrd.com/nuclearsafety and a weight of 29,000 tons. In the 1986 accident the reactor core The Fund has financed the Thomas Mirow, EBRD President of unit 4 melted and left significant necessary research and engineering, 25 years after the amounts of material containing infrastructure and preparatory accident at the nuclear fuel in the lower floors of the works to achieve the SIP objectives. Chernobyl nuclear building. Under extremely perilous Stabilisation measures inside and power plant two conditions engineers and workers outside the shelter to minimise the crucial projects managed to cover the open reactor risk of the old structure collapsing are entering the with an enclosure within months. were successfully completed in 2008. completion phase: The construction However, this construction, known While the detailed design for the New of the New Safe Confinement for as the “shelter” or “sarcophagus”, Safe Confinement is being finalised, the destroyed reactor 4 is about to was never intended as a work on the foundations has already begin and a storage facility for spent permanent structure. started. Work on the structure will fuel from the operations of reactors A longer term strategy for the site begin as soon as the design receives 1-3 can now be finalised after the of unit 4 was laid out by a team of regulatory approval from the Ukrainian Ukrainian regulator has approved the Western and Ukrainian experts in authorities, currently expected in project design. 1997 in the Shelter Implementation early 2011. These two projects, in which the Plan (SIP). In the same year the EBRD is involved as fund manager international community led by the and administrator, would not G7 set up the Chernobyl Shelter Shelter Implementation Plan have been possible without the Fund (CSF) to implement the The plan, developed in 1997 by determination of the Ukrainian Plan and invited the EBRD to be Western and Ukrainian experts, sets authorities and the solidarity of its administrator. out a step-by-step approach to the the international community. I Chernobyl Shelter Fund fundamental technical problems am particularly grateful to our faced at Chernobyl and allows shareholders who agreed to use part Established in 1997 as an for the development of solutions of the EBRD’s net income to support multinational donor fund to finance as knowledge about the actual these projects. the SIP, administered by the EBRD. situation increases. However, at this stage funding for the two projects is not yet fully Laying the foundations for the New Safe Confinement secured. In total, €740 million in additional financing still needs to be raised. I am fully aware that this is a considerable amount of money which is particularly difficult to raise at a time of universal fiscal constraints. Nevertheless, we must not forget that it is in the best interest of Ukraine and the international community to bring to a successful conclusion the important work we have started in Chernobyl. Transforming Chernobyl into a safe and secure site is a truly global task. 25 years after the accident we now have the opportunity to finalise the process. It is a chance we must not miss. Timeline 1986 1995 1997

►► 26 April: Explosion of reactor 4 of the ►► G7/EU and Ukraine sign Memorandum of ►► May: G7/EU and Ukraine agreement on the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Understanding Shelter Implementation Plan (SIP);

►► April - October: Construction of ►► EBRD Nuclear Safety Account extended to ►► September: Establishment of the Chernobyl sarcophagus as a temporary measure. include the decommissioning of Chernobyl Shelter Fund (CSF) at the EBRD reactors 1-3. ►► November: First pledging event in New York ►► December: CSF becomes operational Interim Spent Fuel Storage Facility 2

The second major task is from a heat generation station, co-funded Interim Spent Fuel safety point of view by no means by the USA, and a facility for the Storage Facility 2 less important. About 10 years after treatment and storage of solid the end of nuclear power generation radioactive waste, funded by the A key facility for the at Chernobyl the Interim Spent Fuel European Commission. decommissioning of units 1-3 which Storage Facility 2 (ISF-2) will provide will provide safe and secure stoarge a crucial component of a preparatory Outlook of the spent nuclear fuel generated stage for the decommissioning of during the operation of Chernobyl units 1-3. As the 25th anniversary of the 1986 powerplant. Design of the facility accident approaches, both projects was approved in October 2010. Contributors to the EBRD-managed – the New Safe Confinement and Nuclear Safety Account (NSA) have the Interim Storage Facility 2 – are agreed to finance the construction nearing completion. of two facilities required to prepare Nuclear Safety Account the plant for the decommissioning, Both projects are now also at a stage Established in 1993 at the one to safely store the spent fuel where reliable cost estimates are EBRD to finance nuclear safety from the operations of the Chernobyl possible for the first time. Together measures in Eastern Europe. nuclear power plant and one to treat additional €740 million will need to be Today the NSA finances two liquid radioactive wastes. This was raised for these important projects to decommissioning facilities at implemented in addition to bilateral be completed. Chernobyl. projects like the construction of a

1998 1998-1999 2000

►► Year-end: Implementation of first projects: ►► First emergency works: repair of beams ►► May: Second pledging event in Berlin Contracts for project management unit and supporting the roof and stabilisation of ►► Year-end: Ukraine shuts down last operating engineering tasks signed; ventilation stack of the sarcophagus Chernobyl reactor (Unit 3). SIP implementation begins Achievements Western wall stabilisation

The Shelter Implementation Plan (SIP) has the goal to decrease the risk to workers, the population and the environment and to transform Chernobyl into an environmentally safe site for at least the next 100 years. It was developed by Western and Ukrainian experts in 1997 and funded by the European Commission and the of America. The plan sets out a step-by-step approach to the fundamental technical problems faced at Chernobyl, responding to new challenges as they arrive and applying state-of- the-art solutions. Although the SIP defines five central goals, it does not prescribe specific remedies but defines a route to reach the targets. The stabilisation was finished on‑time The future main construction area and within the cost estimate of about has been fitted with road and rail As an example, the concept for the US$ 50 million. It is the largest connections. Site services like power, NSC was defined in 2002 taking into internationally-funded and completed water, drains and communications account many options and previous project at the site to date. supplies have been comprehensively studies and radiation protection refurbished. A new, state-of-the- considerations. Workers’ protection and safety art facility for 1,430 workers has During implementation it became A radiological protection strategy and been built which offers medical and apparent that numerous infrastructure programme for workers are in place radiation protection facilities and facilities not foreseen by the SIP had and an emergency plan for accidents an ambulance. to be provided. has been developed. State-of-the-art biomedical protection and screening Monitoring Many SIP objectives have already programmes have been installed and Detailed studies were carried out to been achieved. Among them are: radiation protection equipment has assess the site’s risks. The probability been procured. In the neighbouring of criticality incidents (spontaneous Stabilisation town a hospital wing has start of a nuclear chain reaction in the The roof and the western wall of the been refurbished and equipped. material containing nuclear fuel) was Chernobyl shelter were successfully Training courses have introduced examined and assessed as virtually stabilised 2004-2008. Eighty per a new safety culture among non-existent. Today, measurement of cent of the roof load was transferred the workforce. neutron flux is part of an integrated to a new external support structure. monitoring system which combines Extremely challenging tasks inside the Infrastructure data on important parameters such shelter such as the installation of new The necessary infrastructure has as radiation levels but also seismic structural supports in the “de-areator” been put in place without which activity and the structural behaviour were also successfully carried out, the construction of the New Safe of the old shelter. This hugely complex reducing the risk of collapse. Confinement could not take place. system has been completed in 2010.

2001 2004 2005

►► April: Decision in principle on the design of ►► Start of biomedical protection and ►► November: Two compliant bids for NSC the New Safe Confinement (NSC) screening programmes for workers in construction received Chernobyl ►► Year-end: Shelter stabilisation works begin The New Safe Confinement

This is a spectacular undertaking. Chernobyl Shelter Fund Hans Blix, Chairman of the The New Safe Confinement will have a The Chernobyl Shelter Fund was Chernobyl Shelter Fund span of 257 metres, a length of 164 established at the EBRD in 1997. metres, a height of 110 metres and a I visited Chernobyl The Bank acts as the fund manager weight of 29,000 tons. of the first time and works closely together with the right after the The new structure will be assembled Government of Ukraine to help ensure 1986 accident on site, but away from the highly that the project is implemented as IAEA Director radioactive unit 4, and then slid into efficiently. The Bank enters into General. When place, covering the reactor building. It grant agreements with the recipient we saw what will prevent the incursion of water and organisation and disburses funds had happened snow, protect against the escape of to contractors. we realised what radioactivity and create the conditions The highest decision-making a collosal task under which the deconstruction body of the Fund is the Assembly it would be to bring the site to a of the reactor and the shelter will of Contributors, comprising safe state. I am grateful that both be possible. representatives of 23 countries and in my former post and now as CSF For that purpose the New Safe the European Commission. Since Chairman I have the opportunity to Confinement will be equipped with its establishment in 1997 it has contribute to the solution of this two cranes with a lifting capacity of been chaired by Hans Blix. As of problem. 50 tons each. Dismantled shelter end-2010, the Chernobyl Shelter Many challenges at the site have components can be laid down or Fund has recorded contributions of been overcome and we are entering processed inside the New Safe €864 million. The Donor Assembly the final phase with the construction Confinement. It will be able to has so far approved nine grant of the NSC to enclose the destroyed operate for at least 100 years. agreements committing €811 million reactor and object shelter. to the completion of the project. The contract for design and Ukraine has to bear a heavy burden construction of the New Safe which is the legacy of the 1986 Confinement was signed in September accident but the international 2007 with the consortium Novarka, community has displayed great formed by the construction companies solidarity in the face of this disaster. Bouygues and Vinci. We all realise that overcoming the Work on the detailed design of the legacy of the accident and learning structure and its systems such as from it will strengthen nuclear safety cranes, fire protection, ventilation etc in the world. is completed. Regulatory approval is I am confident that the ambitious expected in early 2011. Clearance programme can be brought to a of the assembly site right next to the successful conclusion if Ukraine and shelter and excavation work for the its international partners continue foundations in this contaminated area to cooperate effectively. This is have been completed. Piling for the also a prerequisite to raise the still foundations and the lifting cranes required funds. started in September 2010. The New Safe Confinement represents some two thirds of the cost of the Shelter Implementation Plan. Old vent stack will be removed

2006 2007 2008

►► December: Stabilisation of Western wall ►► 17 July: Donor assembly approves grant ►► 80 per cent of roof load of Chernobyl structures in place allocation of €330 million to permit start of Shelter to external support structure NSC construction. ►► Beginning of site clearance (future ►► 7 August: Ukraine and EBRD sign grant assembly area for NSC) agreement

►► 17 September: Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant signs contract with Novarka consortium for NSC construction and with Holtec about completion of Interim Storage Facility 2. New Safe Confinement construction process

1 2

Shelter and NSC areas Clearing of NSC assembly area and preparations of lifting tower foundations

3 4

Piling for NSC foundations (current stage) For worker protection a 90,000 square metre concrete work area will be laid

Work in progress...

5 6

Lifting cranes and sliding pad elements installed Prefabricated NSC elements transported to site

7 8

NSC elements assembled and lifted into position Shelter segments lifted and further elements added to create first section New Safe Confinement construction process (continued)

9 10

End wall installed and first section moved into holding area Second section assembled

11 12

Two sections joined Whole structure slid into place over object shelter

Work in progress...

Final structure will cover unit 4 and object shelter for at least 100 years

New Safe Confinement design images provided by Novarka The Interim Spent Fuel Storage Facility

The Interim Storage Facility on amendment for the implementation the site of the Chernobyl nuclear is signed. It is expected that the Ian Downing, Chairman of the power plant is a key facility for the construction work will be finalised Nuclear Safety Account decommissioning of the units 1-3 as by 2014. It was a huge it will provide safe and secure storage challenge to find of the spent nuclear fuel generated The Nuclear Safety Account a viable technical when the plant was operational. solution for the The Nuclear Safety Account was Spent fuel is currently stored at nuclear spent fuel set up at the EBRD in 1993 as the site in an interim wet storage from the Chernobyl a consequence of a G7 initiative facility constructed in Soviet times reactors 1-3. Today, to provide financial support for (ISF‑1) and in pools in the units. This however, I am safety assessments and the short facility does not conform to modern pleased that as term safety upgrades of old Soviet standards and it appears unlikely that chair of the Assembly of Contributors designed nuclear power plants (VVER its current licence would be extended to the Nuclear Safety Account 440/230 and RBMK). In the following when it expires in 2016. which finances the Interim Spent years nuclear safety projects were Fuel Storage Facility 2, I can report Some spent fuel is still stored in the successfully implemented in Bulgaria, significant progress. The new design fuel ponds inside the three units, and . for the completion has been given which means that certain safety In Chernobyl, the Nuclear Safety regulatory approval and construction and operational functions – such as Account funded security and safety can now begin. cooling – need to be maintained and measures and two decommissioning that the actual decommissioning However, the project is currently facilities. One provides for the or dismantling of equipment facing a funding gap which is treatment of liquid radioactive waste cannot start. seriously threatening its completion. from the operation of reactors 1-3, This we must not allow to happen. The Interim Storage Facility 2 (ISF-2) while the other is an interim storage The facility is essential for the will provide dry storage for the more facility for fuel spent during the decommissioning of the Chernobyl than 20,000 spent fuel assemblies operation of the reactors (ISF-2). nuclear power plant and safety at in Chernobyl for a period of at least The Nuclear Safety Account comprises the site. 100 years. The project will use 16 countries plus the European existing concrete storage modules The implementation is overdue Commission and has so far received and a building for the processing and should not be delayed any about €320 million in contributions of the assemblies. Processing will further. To bring the project to a from its donors. include cutting, drying and fitting of successful conclusion will depend spent fuel into storage containers. on the continued solidarity of the ISF-2 Processing Building international community and the The contract to design and complete commitment of all parties. This was the facility was signed with the always our spirit and this is the spirit American company Holtec International in which we shall prevail. in September 2007. The design of the new facility was approved by the Ukrainian regulator in 2010 and the Assembly of Contributors agreed to start implementation in October 2010. Work can commence once the contract

2009 2010 2011

►► Concept Design Safety Document (key ►► Site clearance completed ►► 26 April: 25th anniversary of licensing documents) approved. ►► Piling for NSC foundations begins Chernobyl accident ►► Approval of ISF2 design ►► Orders for steel and crane for NSC placed ►► Integrated Automated Monitoring System completed An international effort

The international efforts to support CSF Contributions NSA contributions Ukraine in its endeavours to overcome Donor Contribution Donor Contribution the legacy of the 1986 Chernobyl (€ million) (€ million) accident are a demonstration of European Community 250.0 63.3 international solidarity. As recently as United States 182.8 40.4 in June 2010, the G8 leaders declared 60.5 Germany 37.5 at their summit in Muskoka, : United Kingdom 53.1 European Community 36.2 “As we approach the 25th anniversary France 52.5 27.0 of the Chernobyl accident in 2011, Japan 45.7 United States 26.3 we will take the necessary steps to Ukraine 45.0* 21.2 complete the final stages of the safety Italy 41.5 Canada 15.3 and stabilisation projects.” Canada 34.9 10.9 Russia 15.3 9.0 Considerable contributions have been Switzerland 9.3 Russia 7.6 made to both Funds. After an initial 8.0 6.0 pledge of US$ 300 million at the 7.5 Ukraine 5.8 G7 summit in Denver 1997 for the Sweden 7.2 4.2 CSF, two pledging conferences took 7.0 4.0 place in November 1997 (New York) Netherlands 5.7 Norway 4.0 and May 2000 (Berlin) followed by 5.4 1.9 a pledging event in 2005 (London). 5.1 A separate pledging event was held Denmark 5.0 in 2008 to raise additional funds The Interim Storage Facility is financed 5.0 for the NSA. Preparations are now through the EBRD‑administered Finland 4.9 underway for a pledging event for Nuclear Safety Account. In July 2007 Belgium 4.3 both Chernobyl projects in Kiev in donors agreed to fund the completion 2.5 April 2011 to coincide with the 25th of this facility which is a key facility 2.5 anniversary of the accident. for the decommissioning of the Chernobyl reactors 1-3. Contributors Total costs * In addition, Ukraine has accepted to take over one to the Nuclear Safety Account are Both projects have reached a phase SIP task valued at US$ 22 million. the following 16 countries plus the where reliable cost estimates on European Commission. the basis of detailed engineering Donations have been made by In addition, the EBRD provided a are available. According to these , , Korea, , the €77 million grant for the Interim Spent projections, the completion of Slovak Republic and . Fuel Storage Facility in 2008. As of the Shelter Implementation Plan end-2010, the Nuclear Safety Account requires an additional €600 million As of end-2010, the total amount held some €520 million (including (overall cost including support to received for the Chernobyl Shelter proceeds from management of liquid the regulatory authorities as well as Fund is €990 million (including the assets, the EBRD contribution and project and fund management is close proceeds of management of liquid projected and other income). Projects to €1.6 billion) and construction of assets, the EBRD contribution and in Bulgaria, Russia and Lithuania with the Interim Storage Facility (ISF-2) some projected income). a total value of €140 million have an extra €140 million (overall cost The Assembly, including 23 countries been successfully completed. including regulatory support as well as and the European Community, as the project and fund management is close highest decision-making body of the to €300 million). Chernobyl Shelter Fund has approved To date the Chernobyl Shelter nine grant agreements comitting Fund has received contributions over €800 million to-date. Within the from 23 countries, the European nine grant agreements 162 contracts Commission and donations from have been concluded to date, of which six countries. EBRD shareholders 135 have been completed. provided a €58 million grant for the New Safe Confinement. The EBRD and Nuclear Safety

Transforming Chernobyl is the biggest, but not the only task the EBRD Nuclear Safety Department is facing. Financed by the international community the EBRD is currently managing six nuclear safety funds to assist with the nuclear legacy in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. The task includes the decommissioning of Soviet-designed nuclear power plants and the safe treatment and storage of nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. Nuclear Safety activities include decommissioning of EBRD-managed decommissioning nuclear-powered vessels in North-Western Russia funds have also taken a leading role in the promotion of energy efficiency EU accession. The EBRD-managed management, work programmes and projects in countries which are funds play an important role in the financial statements and decides on faced with the closure of nuclear decommissiong process and also in the financing of individual projects. power stations. finding viable solutions to compensate In addition to managing nuclear safety The Nuclear Safety Account, set for the loss of generating capacity, grant funds, the EBRD Nuclear Safety up at the EBRD in 1993 following through a variety of energy sector and Department also plays an important a G7 initiative, financed projects energy efficiency projects. role in EBRD projects to upgrade related to Soviet-designed VVER The Northern Dimension nuclear safety standards in existing 440/230 or RBMK reactors. These Environmental Partnership (NDEP) power plants. The EBRD, together projects provided at that time short Support Fund was established with Euratom, has provided a loan term and emergency upgrades to in 2002 at the EBRD for the for the safety upgrade of two nuclear decrease the risk of accidents. The improvement of the environment units in Ukraine. Since the review Fund also supports the construction in North-West Russia. The NDEP of the Bank’s energy policy in 2006 of decommissioning facilities and “Nuclear Window” provides funding the EBRD can finance nuclear waste assists national safety authorities. for projects that mitigate the legacy management, decommissioning and The Chernobyl Shelter Fund was of the operation of nuclear-powered safety upgrade projects with loans. established at the EBRD in 1997 ships and submarines of the Northern The EBRD is currently considering a following the agreement between fleet in Russia that are in different loan to bring the remaining Ukrainian Ukraine and the EU/G7 on the Shelter stages of decommissioning. nuclear power plants to the same Implementation Plan, the concept high level of safety as the two units All funds are managed by the EBRD’s to transform the Chernobyl site into covered by the first loan. Nuclear Safety Department on behalf safe and secure conditions. The of the contributing countries. The The EBRD Nuclear Safety Department EBRD acts as fund manager and department, in cooperation with currently has over 20 staff, including ensures the oversight of the effective specialised services of the Bank, local experts based in Russia and implementation of the project together is responsible for all technical, Ukraine. Director of the department with the Government of Ukraine. financial, administrative and legal is Vince Novak. The SIP comprises 300 sub-projects aspects of fund management and the largest of which is the New compliance with EBRD rules and Safe Confinement. policies, particularly with respect For further enquires The EBRD also manages three to procurement, environmental International Decommissioning protection and public information. please contact Funds for the nuclear power plants Nuclear Safety Department Each Nuclear Safety Fund is in Jaslovské Bohunice, Slovak European Bank for Reconstruction and Development governed by fund rules agreed by the One Exchange Square Republic, Ignalina, Lithuania, and London EC2A 2JN respective Assembly of Contributors Kozloduy, Bulgaria. The three United Kingdom (Donors) to the fund and approved Tel: +44 20 7338 7195 countries all committed themselves Fax: +44 20 7338 7175 by the EBRD Board of Directors. The to close their first generation Soviet- Email: [email protected] Assembly approves and oversees fund Web site: www.ebrd.com/nuclearsafety designed nuclear power plants after

January 2011