OREANDA-NEWS. January 09, 2013. The first part of the new sarcophagus which will encase the now-defunct Chernobyl reactor in Ukraine was raised– a key landmark in the project that ArcelorMittal is contributing to, reported the press-centre of ArcelorMittal.

The company has supplied around 164, 000m? of steel for a state-of-the-art containment structure for the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine.

“As the largest provider of steel to the construction industry worldwide, ArcelorMittal is regularly involved with high-profile building projects, but few of them are as critical as this one,” said Marek Dolina, CEO of ArcelorMittal Distribution Solutions’ business division east. “More than 26 years after the Chernobyl disaster, the world is still dealing with its consequences, so we feel proud to be playing a role in ensuring the safe future management of the reactor site and minimising the risk of further repercussions.”

Demonstrating an integrated multi-team approach, the international construction project team has supplied more than 91,000m? of steel profiles for use in the external supporting deck and ArcelorMittal Construction Poland and FCE sites are providing 73,000m? of profiles for the internal supporting deck of the New Safe Confinement (NSC) structure designed to encase the defunct reactor number four. Another 106,000m of Omega Purlins, supporting profiles, have now also been delivered for the seam roof.

ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih has provided 12,000 tonnes of 40mm rebar for the foundation of the NSC, which will support the weight of the entire arch.  ArcelorMittal’s 40mm rebar product was chosen due to its special strength and elasticity; it has also been used in other construction projects including dams, bridges and hydroelectric plants.  Its special mechanical properties are particularly important in this case, given that the NSC is being built alongside the defunct power station and will be ‘rolled’ into place above reactor number four, once completed.

The NSC
The NSC supplements the original concrete and steel ‘Object Shelter’ sarcophagus that was built immediately after the disastrous explosion and fire of 1986, but is now showing worrying signs of collapse.  The completed structure will take the form of a giant semi-circular arch, measuring 105m high at its apex and 150m long, creating a full span of 257m. The arch’s frame will consist of a vast lattice of tubular steel – weighing around 29,000 tonnes in total – secured against two longitudinal concrete beams.  This steel framework supports two layers of metal cladding that will ensure containment of any residual radioactive material within the devastated reactor core for the next 100 years. Overall, nearly 200,000 tonnes of steel are being used in the new sarcophagus.

Construction of the NSC is the result of a 21-year planning process, dedicated to identifying the most effective long-term solution for safeguarding the Chernobyl site. Funding for the project, which is being overseen by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), is being provided by a number of international donors.  The total project cost is an estimated €1.03 billion and more than 1,000 workers will be involved in construction of the NSC, which is expected to reach completion by end-2015.