Wedoany.com Report on Mar 11th, The restoration plan for the New Safe Confinement (NSC) at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine has commenced, with the goal of fully restoring its protective functions by 2030. This project is being implemented by French companies Bouygues and Vinci in cooperation with Ukraine's National Nuclear Energy Generating Company (Energoatom). It aims to repair the facility damaged last year and ensure the effective containment of radioactive materials.

Valeriy Tarakanov, the head of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, stated: "It is now necessary to carry out a comprehensive restoration and full recovery of the NSC's functions. We believe no company is better suited for this task than those who designed and built the confinement structure. These companies are the French firms Bouygues and Vinci." French experts and local staff will work together to accelerate the restoration process.

The work to restore the Chernobyl New Safe Confinement includes replacing damaged membranes, repairing the crane system and steel support structures, and restoring the airtightness of the outer cladding. Tarakanov added: "Restoring the containment function for radioactive materials inside the NSC and the active anti-corrosion protection is crucial to ensure the structure operates as designed for 100 years. Upon completing the comprehensive restoration within the specified timeframe, we will be able to proceed with dismantling the unstable parts of the original shelter."

Unit 4 of the Chernobyl plant, following the 1986 accident, was covered by a temporary shelter (the Sarcophagus) containing the melted reactor core and approximately 200 tons of highly radioactive material. The New Safe Confinement, completed in 2019, is the largest movable land-based structure, designed with a 100-year lifespan for long-term protection of the area. The current restoration aims to recover its performance to advance the planning for the safe handling of the original shelter.