[ RadSafe ] Chernobyl sarcophagus cracked, leaking, ready to collapse on glowing interrior

[James Salsman]

If only 3 to 15% of the fuel escaped the first time, then could
a concrete collapse release an even greater amount of the 6 to 30
times as many contaminants as remain?

http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/story.jsp?story=633671

Cracks in decaying shell of Chernobyl reactor threaten second disaster

By Andrew Osborn in Moscow

28 April 2005

A leading Russian scientist has claimed that the sarcophagus entombing
Chernobyl's broken nuclear reactor is dangerously degraded and he warned
that its collapse could cause a catastrophe on the same scale as the
original accident almost 20 years ago.

Professor Alexei Yablokov, President of the Centre for Russian
Environmental Policy, said the concrete and metal sarcophagus was riven
with cracks, already leaking radiation and at risk of collapse unless
repairs were undertaken and work on a replacement urgently begun.

"If it collapses, there will be no explosion, as this is not a bomb, but
a pillar of dust containing irradiated particles will shoot 1.5
kilometres into the air and will be spread by the wind." Depending on
how the wind is blowing, Russia or Belarus would bear the brunt of such
a dust cloud. Ukraine, where Chernobyl is located, would also be affected.

The sarcophagus is designed to keep a lid on what is left of the nuclear
reactor that exploded with such dire consequences during an unauthorised
test in April 1986 and is supposed to stop the mass of unspent nuclear
fuel that lies beneath from entering the atmosphere.

It is estimated that only between 3 and 15 per cent of that fuel
actually escaped during the explosion meaning that most of it is still
trapped inside. Dr Yablokov, a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences
and a one-time adviser to former president Boris Yeltsin, said nuclear
reactions were actually taking place - spontaneously - inside the
sarcophagus as rain and snow fell on the unspent fuel through cracks in
the decaying shell.

He said experts had "seen a luminescence characteristic of chain
reactions inside the giant building". adding: "Who could predict what
might happen if hundreds of thousands of tons of concrete, which was
hastily poured 19 years ago, tumbled down on the ruined nuclear reactor?"

His gloomy assessment corroborates that of the Ukrainian officials who
manage the decommissioned power plant.

Earlier this year Julia Marusych, the head of information at Chernobyl,
admitted on Russian TV that the sarcophagus was in appalling condition:
"The construction is unstable, unsafe, and does not meet any safety
requirements."

The sarcophagus was hastily thrown together after the explosion as a
desperate attempt to contain the world's worst nuclear accident. Many of
the workers who toiled on it have since died of cancer and the
sarcophagus itself began showing signs of serious stress in the early 1990s.

Built to last 50 years,experts were forced to reduce its recommended
lifespan to just 20 years meaning a replacement is due in 2006.

Some repair work was carried out earlier this year but progress is slow
due to the fact that construction workers can only be in its vicinity
for short periods because of radiation levels.

Sceptics claim that warnings about its deterioration are designed to
persuade Western donors to stump up the $1bn bill. A donors' conference
takes place in London on 12 May and the Ukrainian government hopes to
raise $300m.

That task has been complicated, however, by recent revelations that
private firms have embezzled some $185m of Chernobyl money, some of
which was earmarked for a new shelter.