Development of the ChNPP site and the territory of the exclusion zone

Since the Chernobyl NPP is located on the territory contaminated with radioactive substances as a result of the accident in 1986, and the ChNPP unit No. 3 has common building structures with the Shelter object, the ultimate goal of the ChNPP decommissioning was a state called the “brown spot”.

“Brown spot” is a state of the site where the measures for the dismantling of equipment, buildings and structures have been implemented, and the radioactivity of building structures, as sources of ionizing radiation, has been reduced to the established levels of limited exemption from regulatory control.

In fact, in order to achieve the “brown spot” state, it is necessary to clean up the ChNPP site, as well as buildings and structures, to the contamination level that corresponds to the contamination of the exclusion zone.

However, in modern conditions, such a final state of the ChNPP site is economically impractical.

Taking into account the peculiarities of the ChNPP location and prospects for creation of the Special Industrial Use Zone within the exclusion zone, the Concept for the ChNPP Decommissioning is being developed, in which the final state of the site will be defined as “Industrially developed site”.

The development of the ChNPP site aims not only to reduce the burden on the state budget related to maintenance of the exclusion zone, elimination of consequences of the Chornobyl accident and decommissioning of the ChNPP, but also to return the alienated lands to economic activity and give impetus to economic development of the Polissia region.

For this purpose, it is necessary to efficiently use the following specific features of the exclusion zone and the ChNPP industrial site:

availability of developed production infrastructure: systems of communication, power supply, physical protection, water supply, radiation monitoring, railroad and motor access ways;
availability of qualified personnel;
location of the “Industrially developed site” within the exclusion zone, which is the restricted inhabitation area.

The creation of an “Industrially developed site” will give impetus to the more active use of the exclusion zone for the operation of enterprises that will ensure the management of radioactive materials and spent nuclear fuel not only for the NPP, but also for Ukrainian NPPs.

The first step for the economic use of lands in the exclusion zone was the construction of ground-mounted solar stations.

The ground-mounted solar station built at Spanish expense is already operating near the ChNPP. Construction of two more stations is planned ahead.