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    The Global Impact Challenge Ukraine was opened at a large conference hall of Chernobyl NPP on April 3. This is a program aimed at helping to develop solutions for global problems of the mankind. Its participants, by using state-of-the-art disruptive technologies, have to implement ideas and projects which in the nearest 10 years will improve lives of a billion people on earth. The Chernobyl NPP site was selected the program’s starting point as a place of the severest environmental and technogenic challenge of the mankind, which is successfully addressed.

    Topic of the Global Impact Challenge Ukraine 2017 — climate change. Teams from all regions of Ukraine had an opportunity to present their own vision in addressing problems of global warming, pollution of air, water and soil, waste processing, loss of biodiversity, elimination of consequences of the ChNPP accident and other large-scale human-induced disasters, as well as drying of water bodies, deforestation, reduction of emissions of fluorine gases and other chemical waste.

    The competition winner will receive a scholarship for 10-week summer Singularity University Global Solutions Program 2017 at NASA Ames Research Center in the Silicon Valley.

    The Global Impact Challenge Ukraine is carried out by the Singularity University (USA) in cooperation with the SingularityU Kyiv Chapter and public organization greencubator.

    A membrane has been delivered to the full extent to the construction site of New Safe Confinement. This membrane is intended to completely seal the NSC Arch. The membrane itself was designed and manufactured of polyurethane exclusively by CNIM, a French company. In course of design all potentially possible types of deformation were taken into regard: expanding by 55% from the initial size to withstand winds that can reach up to 300 km/hour. Moreover, the membrane body has special incorporated pieces which prevent any tearing. 

    The membrane width makes 150 cm and the length of one section reaches 16 m. The complete membrane will utilize about 2 thousand meters of polyurethane fabric. 

    The membrane will be soon installed on the sealing anchors which have been mounted on Shelter, process building and other structures which are adjacent to the arch. Once the membrane has been installed the arch interior space will be isolated from the environment. 

    We invite you to take part in the Second International Conference on Nuclear Decommissioning and Environment Recovery INUDECO, which will be held 26-27th of April 2016 in Slavutych (Ukraine) in the scope of events dedicated to 30 anniversary of Slavutych town that was built for Chornobyl disaster fighters.

    The conference is held to address the problems of improving the efficiency of scientific research, cooperation and exchange of experience on decommissioning of nuclear facilities and radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. In the context of the disasters of Chornobyl (1986, Ukraine) and Fukushima (2011, Japan) the challenges today are the reintegration of territories and social adaptation of the victims, as well as restoring the environment. 

    Representatives of the government and private sectors, non-profit and scientific organizations will be given the opportunity to take part in following sections:

    — The experience of liquidating the consequences of the Chornobyl disaster and making the “Shelter” object an ecologically safe system. 
    — Decommissioning nuclear power plants, treating with radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. 
    — Social reintegration of the people and territories related to the termination of operation of core enterprises. 
    — Emergency response on objects of critical infrastructure. 
    — IT support of nuclear decommissioning. 
    — “Smart city” technologies of the 21st century. 
    — Ecological problems of constant development and safe environment. 12 Slavutych ECO Forum.

    Workshop within the framework of IAEA "IAEA member-states capabilities enhancement in decommissioning projects management" was held at Chernobyl NPP since February 27 till March 3, 2017. During the workshop results of IAEA project on Risks Management in NPPs decommissioning (DRiMa project ) were presented.

    The workshop was attended by experts IAEA, representatives from Chernobyl NPP, as well as Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plants and NAEC "Energoatom", the experts involved in DRiMa drafting from Germany, UK, Ukraine, representatives from Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Slovakia, Serbia.

    The main workshop purpose to familiarize the participants with the risks assessment methodology in Nuclear Power Plants decommissioning, as well as training in its application. This methodology was developed by IAEA within the DRiMa project implementation. During the workshop specialists took part in the practical sessions under the support of skilled IAEA experts. Initially methodology application was tested at the examples from the posters presentations, provided by the international participants. As a test case Chernobyl Units 1, 2 and 3 decommissioning was proposed for the risks assessment. 

    Upon completion of the official part the workshop participants pointed out the simplicity of the proposed methodology, as well as relevant practical value of the presented risk assessment and management methodology. It was mentioned that the level of such assessment strongly depends on the level of the specialists involved. In addition, it was expressed desire to apply this methodology for decommissioning work planning at Chernobyl NPP.

    On February 8, 2017, a working meeting between Mr. Anatolii Dyriv, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Environmental Policy, Nature Resources Utilization and Elimination of the Consequences of Chernobyl Catastrophe, Mr. Vince Novak, Director of EBRD Nuclear Safety Department, and Mr. Alexander Slavis, Representative of Chernobyl Shelter Fund and Nuclear Safety Account to Ukraine has been held to discuss a number of issues relating to a status of implementing the international projects on Chernobyl site.

    Mr. Vince Novak informed about meetings scheduled for this year of G7 representatives where it is stipulated to discuss a status of implementing the international projects on Chernobyl site.

    The EBRD representatives noticed that year 2016 was the outstanding one for Chernobyl projects, and this gives an impetus for effective cooperation of EBRD and Ukraine in 2017.

    The participants of the working meeting discussed an issue of work completion according to contract time-tables of the international projects on construction of New Safe Confinement, Interim Storage Facility for Spent Nuclear Fuel, Liquid Radioactive Waste Treatment Plant and Industrial Complex for Solid Radioactive Waste Management. The issue concerning funding starting from 2018 from the State Budget of Ukraine for operation of the mentioned facilities was also taken into consideration.

    The EBRD representatives highly appreciated the progress of Ukrainian party in full implementation of Ukrainian contribution to the Chernobyl Shelter Fund before the end of 2017 which is planned to carry out due to reallocation of savings under the budget programs of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine.

    The working meeting participants mentioned the necessity to elaborate additional “emergency” decisions related to ensure acceptance of vitrified high-level radioactive waste for long-term storage.

    The EBRD representatives positively perceived the proposal as to hold final meeting of the Assembly of Contributors in Kiev in December 2017.

    Adapted from official web-portal of
    the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

    1. Project “Procedures and methods for release of materials from regulatory control” is heading into the homestretch
    2. IAEA continues technical cooperation in ChNPP decommissioning and RAW management area
    3. Chernobyl NPP participates in new project of the European Commission
    4. Factory Acceptance Tests of equipment for ISF-2 completed

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