24.04.2008 // Press service of ASE

As the leader of Stabilization Consortium, Atomstroyexport has fulfilled its obligations under the Shelter stabilization project at Chernobyl NPP

On Apr 23 2008, during the visit of the President of Ukraine to Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, the director general of the plant Igor Gramotkin handed the representative of Atomstroyexport CJSC a certificate confirming that the company had successfully completed the contract for stabilizing the Shelter facility of Chernobyl NPP.

The contract was concluded in 2004 in the framework of Shelter Implementation Plan (SIP), a project financed by Chernobyl Shelter Fund managed by EBRD.

The Shelter consortium comprised Yuzhteploenergomontazh, Atomenergostroyproject and Department of Construction of Rivno NPP (all from Ukraine).

Gramotkin said that the consortium did excellent work: “This contract is the most successful project implemented at Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant so far. This is the result of the vast experience of the leader of the consortium, Atomstroyexport, the high professionalism of the general contractor of the project, Yuzhteploenergomontazh, and the hard work of hundreds of people: designers, engineers, constructors and assemblers.”

It was a very hard project as the potential hazard of the Shelter facility was much higher than allowed for facilities containing nuclear and radioactive materials.

The director of the project from Chernobyl NPP Viktor Khavrus said: “I can’t say for sure that nobody has ever done such work but I am sure that nobody has ever done such work under so hard conditions. This is a unique project.”

Presently, Atomstroyexport CJSC is carrying out physical work under SIP 07–1–00 contract.

The contract was signed with Chernobyl NPP specialized enterprise on Jan 10 2008.

The contract envisages the repair of the roof and the physical protection systems and the reinforcement of the supporting beams.

The project is supposed to enhance the safety of the Shelter facility until a new safe confinement is built.

This time the Stabilization Consortium comprises YUTEM-Engineering and Atomenergopstroyproekt (both from Ukraine).

On Apr 20 2008 the consortium successfully completed the basic stage of the project. Due to effective management, original technologies and modern equipment, the consortium has completed the work one month ahead of the schedule.

The state acceptance committee will examine the work in late 2008.

Atomstroyexport is the leading Russian organization implementing contracts for the construction of nuclear power plants abroad. After the launch of Tianwan NPP in China, the company continues building Kudankulam NPP in India, Bushehr NPP in Iran and Belene NPP in Bulgaria.