The Government of Ukraine approves the development concept of activity within the Chernobyl Zone

 

 

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine by its Order No.535-r of July 18, 2012 approved the Concept of State Policy Implementation in the field of development of activity within separate radioactive contamination areas as a result of the Chernobyl accident.

The objective of this document is to define directions and priorities of organizational, production, scientific and technical, environmental-oriented and other activity within the Exclusion Zone, targeted at minimization of ecological hazard and preservation of natural resources, material, spiritual and cultural values, stability and biodiversity of its ecosystem, as well as use of the Exclusion Zone’s territory in economic purposes.

 

With this objective it is envisaged to improve protective barriers, reinforce hydro-technical facilities, perform measures on mitigation of forest fire risk within the Exclusion Zone, reduction of volumes of radioactive substance migration outside the Zone during extreme wind, storm, tornado; reduction of volumes of technogenic spread of radionuclides; as well as Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant decommissioning, transformation of Shelter Object into an ecologically safe system, and construction of a complex of facilities for radioactive waste management within the Exclusion Zone.

The Concept envisages the development of production associated with decontamination of materials and equipment, located within the Exclusion Zone, with the purpose to return them in economic use; and elaboration of the issue on construction of a melting plant to receive metal for producing containers (drums) to store radioactive waste.

The possibility to implement a project in the area of “green energy” is also envisaged, including construction of wind and solar power stations, cultivation of energy crops and location of production on their processing.

The Concept is to be financed at the expense of the State budget, grunts, presents, charitable contributions and other funds, including those received as a result of implementing separate types of activity within the Exclusion Zone.

The Concept is planned to be implemented by 2017 by means of maximum involvement of personnel of the Chernobyl NPP and other enterprises of the Exclusion Zone, including those who perform activity at the stage of construction and operation of facilities designed for radioactive waste management.