<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/06/chornobyl-disaster-shelter-no-longer-blocks-radiation-and-needs-major-repair-iaea>
"The protective shield over the Chornobyl disaster nuclear reactor in Ukraine,
which was hit by a drone in February, can no longer perform its main function
of blocking radiation, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has
announced.
In February a drone strike blew a hole in the “new safe confinement”, which was
painstakingly built at a cost of €1.5bn ($1.75bn) next to the destroyed reactor
and then hauled into place on tracks, with the work completed in 2019 by a
Europe-led initiative. The IAEA said an inspection last week of the steel
confinement structure found the drone impact had degraded the structure.
The 1986 Chornobyl explosion – which happened when Ukraine was under Moscow’s
rule as part of the Soviet Union – sent radiation across Europe. In the
scramble to contain the meltdown, the Soviets built over the reactor a concrete
“sarcophagus” with only a 30-year lifespan. The new confinement was built to
contain radiation during the decades-long final removal of the sarcophagus,
ruined reactor building underneath it and the melted-down nuclear fuel itself.
The IAEA director general, Rafael Grossi, said an inspection mission “confirmed
that the [protective structure] had lost its primary safety functions,
including the confinement capability, but also found that there was no
permanent damage to its load-bearing structures or monitoring systems”.
Grossi said some repairs had been carried out “but comprehensive restoration
remains essential to prevent further degradation and ensure long-term nuclear
safety”."
Via Susan ****
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
