The new confinement will turn the sarcophagus into an environmentally safe system, "minding the removal of the remains of nuclear fuel and fuel-containing materials, doing radioactive waste-management work and dismantling (or strengthening) the unstable structures", the design reads.
The confinement will consist of an arched cover 108 metres in height, 150 metres in width at 257-metre spans.
Inside and outside, the structure will enable maintenance of the confinement structure and conversion of the sarcophagus into an environmentally safe system.
It will have hoisting and conveyance mechanisms, life-support and monitoring systems, transport containers for contaminated building refuse and equipment.
The feasibility report of the confinement has been developed by the international consortium of Bechtel and Battelle (the United States), EDF (France) with the involvement of the Kiev-based Research and Development Institute Energoproekt, Scientific-Technical Centre Sarcophagus of the National Academy of Sciences.
The sarcophagus was built in 1986 above the destroyed fourth unit of the Chernobyl station. Its goal was to prevent the spread of radioactive dust.
Today, the sarcophagus is unstable. Scientists and specialists know nothing of what is going on inside and the state of the almost 200 tonnes of the nuclear fuel inside the power unit. Its technical condition has worsened - cracks have appeared in the walls and the ceiling somewhat sagged. Experts warn that a collapse may bring about even worse effects than the April 26, 1986 accident.
To make the sarcophagus environmentally safe a new sarcophagus, No 2, has been designed. It will be erected near the fourth unit and then placed above it. Its service life will be 100 years.
The project will cost 758 million dollars. It will be financed by the International Chernobyl Fund Sarcophagus (708 million dollars) and the Ukrainian government (50 million dollars).
Building of the new sarcophagus is expected to begin in April 2006 after stabilising the structures of the old one.
Assembly of the new sarcophagus is planned to begin in February 2008.
